Mendjiadeu, Esmon named NJCAA Women’s All-Americans

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Following a 29-5 season, a 10th straight Tennessee Community College Athletic Association regular season title, an eighth straight TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament crown and eighth consecutive trip to the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Championships, the Walters State Lady Senators added two more All-Americans to the impressive total under Coach Dave Kragel.

Kragel has now mentored 26 National Junior College Athletic Association All-Americans, including 16 since the 2007-08 season, as sophomore forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu was named a NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Second Team All-American and sophomore guard Zacharyia Esmon was tabbed as an Honorable Mention All-American.

Mendjiadeu was named to the All-TCCAA First Team, the All-TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament Teamand the Co-MVP of the TCCAA in her only season in a Walters State uniform. The native of Nkongsamba, Cameroon, averaged 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 offensive rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game this season.

Esmon, who was also an All-TCCAA First Team member as well as the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament's Most Valuable Player, had a tremendous sophomore campaign as well, capping a two-year career as a Lady Senator. The Franklin native and graduate of Summitt High School tossed in 14.7 points per game while grabbing 4.8 rebounds, dishing out 2.9 assists and swiping 1.3 steals per outing.

First Team members included Mineral Area's Holly Forbes, South Plains' Gabbie Green, Shelton State's Tiyah Johnson, Hinds' Victoria Johnson, Angelina's Natasha Mack, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's Bethy Mununga, Tallahassee's Juliunn Redmond, Florida SouthWestern State's Tina Stephens, Seward County's Silvia Veloso and Western Nebraska's Merle Wiehl.

Motlow State's Janna Lewis joined Mendjiadeu on the Second Team, as did Cowley's Kedranea Addison, New Mexico's Thamires Andrade, Central Arizona's Ayanna Clark, Gulf Coast State's Alexus Dye, Tyler's Felmas Koranga, Salt Lake's Miki'ala Maio, Central Georgia Tech's Fredricka Sheats and Collin County's Destiny Thurman.

Third Team members were Bossier Parish's Monette Bolden, Iowa Western's Kiara Dallmann, Trinity Valley's Curtessia Dean, Three Rivers' Hailee Erickson, Cochise's Awa Keita, Wabash Valley's Keya Patton, Harford's Dahnye Redd, Hutchinson's DejaNae Roebuck, Wabash Valley's Alexis Thomas and Southeastern Illiniois' Shamari Tyson.

Esmon was one of 20 players named to the Honorable Mention list, which included Jayla Hopkins of Spartanburg Methodist, a team Walters State face twice during the regular season, and Patrycja Jaworska of Miles, the team Walters State defeated in the opening round of the national tournament in Lubbock, Texas.

The All-America selections are made by the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee.