November 14, 2024
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A’Jah Davis leads school-record three all-MAC selections for NIU

By Daily Chronicle staff report
Western Michigan's Taylor WIlliams (33) fouls NIU’s A'Jah Davis (25) setting her up for a 3 point play during the 4th quarter at Northern Illinois University's Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 in DeKalb.

Western Michigan's Taylor WIlliams (33) fouls NIU’s A'Jah Davis (25) setting her up for a 3 point play during the 4th quarter at Northern Illinois University's Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 in DeKalb. (Mark Black for Shaw Local)

A’Jah Davis, Janae Poisson and Chelby Koker earned postseason honors from the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday, the first time in program history NIU had three All-MAC selections.

Davis, a junior forward, was named to the All-MAC First Team for her first career All-MAC honor. Davis averaged a double-double in the regular season with 16.5 points and a league-leading 12.1 rebounds a game. She set two NIU single-season records this season with 338 rebounds and 23 double-doubles this season. Davis has had a double-double in each of the past 12 games. She was named MAC Player of the Week on Dec. 21 after scoring 26 points with 13 rebounds at DePaul.

“A’Jah is the dominant post player in the league,” head coach Lisa Carlsen said. “Her growth since last season has been huge and I can’t wait to see that continue. Her ability to rebound the basketball is game-changing for us, and she takes a great deal of pride in that. She has continued to work at her craft and that work ethic will continue as she has a great desire to continue to grow and develop as a dominant player, not just in our league but nationally as well.”

Guards Poisson and Koker were selected to the All-MAC Honorable Mention Team. Poisson led the conference in the regular season with 2.75 three-pointers a game, making 77 in 28 games. The redshirt-senior made at least four threes in a game 10 times this season. On Feb. 12, Poisson scored a season-high 26 points in NIU’s overtime victory over Buffalo. This is her third career postseason league honor. Poisson was named to the All-MAC Freshman Team in 2017 and was last season’s MAC Sixth Player of the Year.

This is Koker’s second All-MAC selection after being named to the All-MAC Second Team in 2021. Koker started all 16 games she played this season before suffering a season-ending injury Jan. 26. She averaged 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game with three double-doubles. Koker had 29 points and a career-high 11 assists against Eastern Illinois on Dec. 4. She had 28 points in the Huskies’ 79-67 win over Akron on Jan. 24.

“Janae has come so far back from significant injuries, I couldn’t be prouder of her,” Carlsen said. “I love her fire, her passion and competitiveness. Chelby was well on her way to being recognized as one of the elite guards in the MAC. This recognition shows how much respect the league’s coaches have for her. I can’t wait to get her back on the court next season.”

NIU enters the 2022 MAC Championship as the No. 4 seed and will play Ball State in the quarterfinals Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

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