BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Gustavus women’s basketball players Hannah Howard (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.), Mikayla Miller (Jr., Goodhue, Minn.), and Miranda Rice (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) have been selected to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball All-Conference Team, announced Thursday.
Hannah Howard most recently appeared in her 100th career game in Black and Gold, earning her first All-Conference honors. The senior team captain has started in all 27 games this season, appearing in every game for the Gusties over the past three seasons. Howard has established career-high scoring numbers this season, accumulating 274 points for an average of 10.1 points per game. She also leads the Gusties on the glass, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game with a career-high total of 174 on the season.
Howard has recorded double-digit scoring performances in 13 games this season. Additionally, Feb. 15 at St. Catherine, Howard tied a career-high with 19 points and registered a season-high 18 rebounds (one shy of career-high) to record her fourth of five double-doubles this season, also notching a career-high nine free throws made, going 9-for-10 from the charity stripe. Howard was also awarded a spot on the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.
Mikayla Miller has marked her name at the top of the Gustavus record book in several categories this season. Appearing in all 27 games, Miller has led the Gusties all season with a MIAC second-ranked scoring average of 16.9 points per game to earn her third consecutive All-Conference nod. She leads the MIAC from the free throw line, shooting 87.4 percent while leading the league in steals with 84, 3.1 per game.
Feb. 8 at St. Olaf College, Miller picked up two steals to pass Jess Vadnais (2004-08) on the program’s all-time steals list with 224 in her career. Most recently at St. Thomas, Miller recorded two steals to set a program record for most steals in a season with 84, breaking Colleen Ruane’s record of 83 steals set during the 2011-12 season. Dec. 7 vs. St. Olaf, Miller eclipsed 1,000 points in her career. Sitting at 980 points prior to the game, she posted 25 points, needing just 20 to reach the 1,000-point mark. Currently, Miller ranks sixth all-time among Gustavus career scoring leaders with 1,314 career points. Nov. 22 at UW-La Crosse, Miller recorded a career-high 34 point game, breaking the Gustavus single-game point record.
During the week of Nov. 22-26, Miller averaged 30 points per game after putting up the career-high 34 points at UW-La Crosse, followed by a 26-point performance in the Gusties’ win against Buena Vista. Miller missed only one of her 20 free throw attempts (.950) and was a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe against Buena Vista. She also averaged 3.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in those two games and shot 51.4 percent from the floor en route to earning MIAC Athlete of the Week and U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Player of the Week. Miller also received back-to-back Gustavus Female Student-Athlete of the Month honors in November and December.
Miranda Rice is a first time All-Conference Team recipient after earning honorable mention honors a season ago. Rice has consistently been the second-leading scorer on the team, ranking behind Miller and sitting third in the conference with an average of 16.2 points per game. Rice ranks second best in the MIAC with a 56.9 field goal percentage, also ranking within top-20 in the nation in field goal percentage and field goals made (178). Rice has recorded double figures in the scoring column in all but three games this season, playing in all 27. She has set several career-highs including a career-best 30-point performance against Saint Benedict Jan. 7 and a career-best six steals against Hamline Feb. 4. In the MIAC Playoff Semifinal against Bethel Feb. 24, Rice led the Gusties with 21 points and tied a career-high with 12 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season and fourth of her career.
In the month of January, Rice helped carry the Gusties to an 8-0 record en route to a women’s basketball program record 19-straight wins. She totaled double-digit performances in each game to compile a team-best 152 points for an average of 19 points per game. Rice collected 36 rebounds for a clip of 4.5 per game, 14 assists, and 14 steals. She was also an efficient shooter, going 65-for-105 from the field, good for a 61.9 field goal percentage and shot 22-for-32 from the free throw line. For her performance, she earned Gustavus Female Student-Athlete of the Month.