For the second straight season, Three Rivers guard Myia Yelder was named an NJCAA All-American, this time to the first team for her efforts in the Raiders' historic season.
"It's a great accomplishment and it's great that she's getting recognized for all the hard work she puts in," Three Rivers coach Alex Wiggs said.
A third team All-American last year, Yelder is the third player in program history to earn the honor twice.
"It felt better this year to be selected first team jumping from third team last year," Yelder said. "I didn't realize it was only 10 girls that get selected to the first team so it's pretty special to be one of those 10 girls."
The 5-foot-8 point guard from Conway, Arkansas, averaged 17 points per contest, and ranked 11th in the nation this season with 90 steals and 13th with 142 assists.
Yelder finished her tenure at Three Rivers second in program history for career points (1,175) and career assists (346) and holds the top spot in career steals with 217.
The Region XVI Player of the Year led the Raiders to a second straight undefeated season and region championship.
Three Rivers finished 28-1, losing to the eventual national champions Tyler (Texas) in the second round of the NJCAA National Tournament. The Raiders were ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in program history over the final six weeks of the regular season.
Nadechka Laccen was Tyler’s only player named to the All-American team. Moberly Area freshman Indya Green was named to the third team as the only other player from Region XVI to be honored.
Last year, Yelder and Chaylea Mosby were both named All-Americans with Mosby on the first team after the Raiders reached the final four and finished 24-1, losing to the eventual champions.
Yelder is one of 34 Three Rivers women's basketball players that have been named All-Americans since 1992 and joins Paula Corder (1997-98) and Missy Whitney (2005-06) as the only players to earn the honor twice.
"There aren't that many college basketball players across the board that can say they've been named an All-American twice," Wiggs said. "That's hard to do, especially at the junior college level and something she should be proud of. I know all of the hours she puts in the gym and in her shooting. It's all the unseen hours she puts in that has paid off for her."
Yelder shot 50% from the field, including 36.7% from 3-point range and was a 78.7% free-throw shooter. She scored 20 or more points nine times, including a season-best 27 in a home win Dec. 9 in which Yelder sank 10 of 12 shots.
"The extra time in the gym really worked out for me," Yelder said.
In the region championship, her final home game, Yelder scored 20 points, connecting on both of her 3-point attempts, and also led with five assists to go with three steals and three rebounds.
Robert Augsdorfer - Daily American Republic