For the first time in head coach Suzy Merchant’s tenure with MSU, the women’s basketball team did not play in any postseason tournament, because of a decision to not risk further injuries. 

But the veteran sideline general and former Central Michigan guard received more outstanding news on her sophomore forward Aerial Powers on Saturday, who earned another honorable mention All-American honor by another renowned coalition.

It’s been four years since the program carried a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) honorable mention All-American recipient since former standout Kalisha Keane. 

Now, following a season filled with record-breaking accomplishments, Powers earned WCBA All-American honors to complete her collection of awards. She also earned the Associated Press honorable mention All-America award this past Wednesday. 

Becoming the first Spartan to earn First-Team All-Big Ten honors in her first two seasons, Powers broke the single-season points (678), rebounds (375) and double-doubles (24) records this season, despite finishing ninth in the Big Ten standings as a team with a 16-15 record. 

Powers’ 21.9 points per game was the highest scoring average of any player in the program’s history. Her 12.1 rebounds per game was the second highest in the conference this year, behind Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui. 

Powers joins fellow Big Ten players, Lexie Brown of Maryland and Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell on the WCBA honorable mention list. 

Powers will return next season for her junior year, hoping to build on a career that has been one of the most decorated in MSU women’s basketball history.