Cassondra Boston has received a lot of accolades in her four years at Emporia State, but none bigger than the one she received on Monday night in St. Joseph, Mo.
The WBCA All-American team was announced at the Elite Eight banquet, and Boston was one of 10 players named to the team.
“It felt great, because at first they named off the people that weren’t there, and then they named off all the people that were,” Boston said. “I got a lot of cheers from my teammates. It was a good feeling.”
Boston, who was the MIAA and South Central Regional player of the year, joins a long list of Lady Hornets who have been named All-Americans. ESU has had a member on the team for five straight seasons and have had 10 All-Americans since 1998, the most of any Division II school in that time span.
Boston has had an accomplished career, and even led her team in scoring last season, but this year she stepped her game up to another level. She averaged an MIAA-best 19.4 points and was third in assists with 4.13 per game.
Boston has always been needed as a scorer, but in years past she hasn’t been the go-to player, playing alongside Michelle Stueve her first two seasons and Ida Edwards last year. This year the scoring load and team leader responsibilities fell on her shoulders, and she has excelled, leading the Lady Hornets to their first Elite Eight since 2006.
“I think it’s just been that I’ve had to step into that role and be that person that my team looks to do that,” she said. “I’ve embraced that role, and Brandon talked to me about being a leader, and I’ve definitely taken on that role.”
Boston has also put herself in the record books at ESU because of the numbers she put up this season. With at least one game left and possibly three, she is third in single-season 3-pointers (83), fifth in free throws made (155) and second in free throw percentage (87.6).
For her career, Boston is fifth on the all-time scoring list with 1,792 points, 47 behind Tara Holloway. She is also second in 3-pointers made (238) to Michelle Stueve and sixth in assists (462).
The All-American team was selected by a vote of the selection committee, comprised of one representative from each of the eight geographical regions and a chairperson.
2010 NCAA Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team
Lauren Beckley, Shippensburg University Sr. F 6’0
Jheri Booker Minnesota-Duluth Sr. F 5’10
Cassondra Boston Emporia State Sr. G 5’6
Chelsea Carlisle Univ. of Calif.-San Diego Soph. G 5’7
Kristina Freeman Gannon University Sr. G 5’9
Jasmine Gunn Tusculum College Jr. G 4’11
Johannah Leedham Franklin Pierce University Sr. G 5’11
Jenny Vining Arkansas Tech University Jr. G 5’10
Brooque Williams California Univ. of Penn. Sr. G 5’8
Katie Wysocky Michigan Tech University Sr. F 6’0
All-Time ESU WBCA All-Americans
2010 — Cassondra Boston
2009 — Ida Edwards
2008 — Michelle Stueve
2007 — Michelle Stueve
2006 — Michelle Stueve
2003 — Kristie McClain
2001 — Emily Bloss
2000 — Tara Holloway
1999 — Jurgita Kausaite
1998 — Aneta Kausaite