KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Warrior women ended the 2020-21 season with a trip to the 2021 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Round of 16 after winning the Opening Round Championship on their home court. Seniors Kiara Burlage and Abbie Johnson both earned individual awards from the Cascade Conference, and both were named All-American Honorable Mentions on Thursday.
"We are happy for both Abbie and Kiara," Head Coach Brian Orr said. "It's always nice to see players being recognized for all their hard work. I would have liked to see them a little higher, but the list is filled with a lot of talented players."
Burlage led the Warriors in scoring and rebounding this season at 16.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The forward shot the highest percentage from behind the 3-point line of any Warrior (.476) and led the team at the free throw line (.767). The Cascade Conference Player of the Year notched three double-doubles this season, including 14 points and 12 rebounds against William Jessup in the first game of the Opening Round.
The Columbia Falls, Mont. native set a career-high with 34 points against MSU-Northern and set the LC State record for free throws in a game (18) on the contest. Her 13 made in a row is also a record for the Warrior women. She joined the 1,000-Point Club this year and, when paired with her 632 career rebounds, is in rare company to accomplish both.
Johnson has been a defensive force for LC State since she became a starter as a sophomore, and this season she was rewarded by being voted the Cascade Conference Defender of the Year. The senior was second on the team in scoring (13.4 points per game) and rebounding (6.0 rebounds per game) and led LC State in field goal percentage at .535.
The Cashmere, Wash. native currently sits eighth in the LC State record books in free throw percentage (.793). She notched a pair of double-doubles, including one to open the season, and scored a career-high 26 points against NCAA DII Montana State-Billings.