Williams Named All-American; LaHaye Named Region Coach of The Year

The following releases were provided by Randolph-Macon College:

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ATLANTA – The Women's Basketball Coaches Association has selected sophomore Kelly Williams (Garysburg, N.C/Halifax Academy) as an All-American, closing out a tremendous season for the second-year player. Williams was one of the national leaders in scoring, rebounding and blocking at various points of the season, including all three at the same time during the month of January.

"The 10 members of the 2018 WBCA NCAA Division III Coaches' All-America team are well deserving of this recognition, and the WBCA congratulates them for their accomplishments this season," said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. "These young women have worked to elevate themselves and their teams to an elite level and through their exceptional talents on the basketball court, they have lifted the women's game."

The honors come on the same week as Williams' selection as a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Second Team Academic All-American, the D3hoops.com South Region Player of the Year, Richmond Times-Dispatch All-State Team for Division II/III and a Sports Illustrated "Face in the Crowd."

During the ODAC Tournament, Williams set new records for total points scored (79) and total rebounds (60) in a single tournament.

Williams was been named the ODAC Player of the Week eight times this season to total 12 in her career – the most decorated R-MC ODAC Player in the Week in history. She has received the U.S Basketball Writers Association National Division III Player of the Week honor four times in 2017-18, more than any other player at the Division III level in history. Including one selection last year, Williams has five honors from the group.  D3hoops.com named her to its Team of the Week twice this season as well.

Williams finished the season with 736 points, an average of 25.4 points per game, which still is the national lead for both marks. She finished with 527 rebounds, the national #1, as well as an average of 18.2 per game, which is still second-best in the nation. Her 28 double-doubles is a national lead as well, as is the number of field goals made with 269. Williams was also the national leader in free throws attempted and made with 304 and 197 respectively.

Williams is Randolph-Macon's first WBCA All-American selection since Molly Ariail was selected in 2009-10.

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ASHLAND, Va. – The membership of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association has recognized Randolph-Macon Women's Basketball Head Coach Carroll LaHaye as its South Region Coach of the Year. With the honor, LaHaye becomes a finalist for the United States Marine Corps/WBCA Coach of the Year award.

Named in honor of college basketball's all-time winningest coach, the Pat Summitt Trophy is presented annually to the United States Marine Corps/WBCA National Coach of the Year in each of the five membership divisions – NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and two-year college. The criteria in order of priority are: Team success during current season; Team improvement from previous season; Fulfillment of team potential; and professional manner and attitude of coach.

LaHaye  completed her 36^th season with the Yellow Jackets in 2017-18. Amongst the successes of this season was her 600^th victory against Lynchburg 71-59 on January 20. This year's 23-6 record is a seven game improvement over 2016-17's record of 16-12. The season also marked LaHaye's 24^th winning season and 14^th 20-win season. R-MC won its ninth ODAC Title under LaHaye in 2017-18, winning the ODAC Tournament with a 72-68 victory over Emory & Henry. The win provided the team's 10^th NCAA Tournament appearance, all under LaHaye. R-MC's tournament win over Valley Forge marked LaHaye's 14^th NCAA Tournament win.

Overall, LaHaye owns a .631 overall winning percentage in her time at Randolph-Macon and a .735 winning percentage over ODAC opponents in the regular season.  LaHaye ranks 7th nationally in total number of victories in Division III Women's Basketball and 30th for most wins among all active head coaches at all divisions of NCAA Women's Basketball. She ranks 17th in most victories for all Division III coaches in history. 

LaHaye has earned WBCA Coach of the Year honors on a district/regional level before: in 1995-96, 1997-98, 1998-99 and in 2006-07. 

All five United States Marine Corps/WBCA National Coaches of the Year are presented with The Pat Summitt Trophy during the WBCA Convention.