Shipley Named NAIA All-America

Sierra Shipley

Sierra Shipley

Thursday, March 20, 2014

— John Brown senior guard Sierra Shipley was named to the NAIA All-America women's basketball first team, a first in the program's history.

The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) selected the team, which features the top 10 NAIA players in the country.

Shipley, a former standout at Fayetteville, enjoyed one of the finest seasons and careers in program history by leading the No. 19 Golden Eagles in points (518), rebounds (169), 3-point shots (84), field goals (152) and steals (53). She also paced John Brown to the program's highest single-season win total with a 25-7 record entering the NAIA National Championships this week.

Shipley was honored with her first-career All-Conference first team nomination and, after leading JBU to its first-ever Sooner Athletic Conference tournament title game, landed All-Tournament honors for her efforts.

"This is a huge honor for Sierra because we've had three tremendous players that were named honorable mention in the past," JBU coach Jeff Soderquist said. "For her to be named to the top 10 players in the nation is an incredible feat. I'm very proud of her and her season.

"Sierra does so much more than scoring for us. She leads or ranks high in so many individual statistics, but, more importantly, she's also one of our best defenders. We've put her on the other teams' best player many times this season and she's found great success."

Shipley ranks sixth all-time in program history in scoring (1,450), second in career 3-pointers (219), second in career free-throw shooting (82.5 percent) and is tied for second in career 3-point shooting percentage (37.8 percent). This season she has also earned the ninth-best 3-point shooting mark in the country (.442), the 10th-best free-throw shooting clip nationally (.839) and the 10th-highest made 3-pointers (84). Shipley is also No. 13 in the nation in 3-pointers made per game (2.625).

"After we lost Eliana (Fernandez) a couple of week ago, Sierra emerged as a great leader," Soderquist said. "She didn't falter or try to do too much. She's done an excellent job not only on the court, but in the leadership position we've needed her to hold this season."

Shipley joins three other players in program history who have been named to the WBCA-NAIA All-America list. While Shipley is the lone first team recipient, Ashley Taylor (2009), Kendra McCormick (2006) and Martha Hancock (2001) were all named to the Honorable Mention list.

John Brown is making its fourth appearance in the NAIA National Championships and will face No. 17 Lyon today at 7 p.m. at the Frankfort (Ky.) Convention Center.

Sports on 03/20/2014