2004-05 Press Releases

The Heart of America Athletic Conference has recognized 32 Graceland University athletes as All-Conference Scholar-Athletes for 2004-05.

The Yellowjacket softball, women’s track and football teams led the way with four scholars each, followed by the women’s volleyball, men’s track, men’s cross country and men’s soccer teams with three scholar-athletes apiece.

The following is a list of Graceland’s 2004-05 HAAC Scholar-Athletes:
Athlete -- GPA -- Sport -- Major
Jennifer Coulson -- 3.81 -- Basketball -- Physical Education and Health

Graceland University’s Jennifer Coulson has been named a Daktronics-NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball All-America Scholar-Athlete for the 2004-05 season.

Coulson, a junior from Eagleville, Mo., is majoring in physical education and health at Graceland. Coulson averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 28 games this season. She shot 31 percent from the field and 59 percent at the charity stripe. In the spring, Jen was a top 24 finalist for The John Wooden Trophy, which recognizes athletes across the nation who use sports to display character, teamwork and citizenship. Last basketball season Coulson received the Coaches Appreciation Award and the Best Attitude Award.

The Graceland women’s basketball team concluded the 2004-05 season Saturday night in Lamoni, Iowa by honoring seniors Jessica Crockett and Amy Giehtbrock after the game against Evangel University. The Crusaders won the game 61-46, but spirits were high as Coach Laura Pollard recognized the highlights of the two ladies who will serve as student assistant coaches for next season’s team.

Crockett ended her Yellowjacket career with a 19-point effort and Giehtbrock was a steady player as always with nine points and a balanced seven rebounds. Junior LaShonda Davison pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds and had two steals. Freshman Carly Coleman had seven points and five rebounds for the Jackets, added to LaQurisha Gray’s six rebounds and three assists.

Graceland ended the season 1-31 overall and 0-20 in the conference.

Senior forward Amy Giehtbrock was just one point shy of a double-double in Thursday’s game against Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. Giehtbrock had nine points and 12 rebounds in the 40-73 loss to the Wildcats.

Fellow captain LaShonda Davison grabbed eight rebounds during the game and junior Jodi Butler scored seven points.

The ladies will play their final game of the 2004-05 season this Saturday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m. against Evangel University in the Closson Center. Senior recognition will be held following the game against the Crusaders.

Senior Jessica Crockett stepped up with a double-double performance in Monday night’s game against Benedictine College. Even though the Jackets lost 69-88, three ladies scored in double digits and five players had five or more rebounds.

The Jackets had a slow start, falling to a 19-point deficit in the first half, but came out strong in the second period, tying the Ravens 43-43. In the second half, Graceland shot 44.7 percent, hitting 17 of 38 shots.

Crockett’s 13 points, 11 rebounds and four steals were complemented by Amy Giehtbrock’s 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Jodi Butler’s 15 points and five rebounds.

The ladies travel to Baldwin City, Kan. to play Baker on Thursday, then return to the Closson for Senior Night on Saturday, February 19. For that game, the ladies tip off against the Evangel Crusaders at 6:00 p.m.

Senior forward Amy Giehtbrock hit nine of 14 shots on her way to 20 points in Saturday’s game with William Jewell. Although Jewell got the 76-58 win, Giehtbrock and company played a strong game against the 13th ranked team in the nation.

The ladies hit 45 percent of their shots throughout the game, including six three pointers and an eight-for-nine performance from the charity stripe. Graceland held strong in the first half, down by just seven at the half and in the second half the Yellowjackets were outscored by only 11 points. Graceland out rebounded Jewell 38-31 and had two more assists than the Cardinals.

Both Giehtbrock and fellow senior Jessica Crocket were one rebound shy of a double-double. Added to LaShonda Davison’s 10 boards, these three ladies grabbed 28 of the team’s 38 rebounds. Giehtbrock led the Jackets in scoring followed by Crockett’s 13 and freshmen Carly Coleman’s 11 and Kristin Osborn’s nine. Davison had eight assists for Graceland.

The ladies host Benedictine College Monday, February 14 at the Closson Center at 5:30 p.m.

Captain Lashonda Davison led the Jackets with 13 points against Avila Thursday night in Kansas City, Mo. Graceland fell short of the Eagles 56-68.

Freshman Carly Coleman was right behind Davison with 12 points and three steals in 36 minutes on the court. Davison, Amy Giehtbrock and Jodi Butler each pulled down seven rebounds and freshman Kristin Osborn had three assists.

Graceland will hold Parent’s Day on Saturday, February 12 at 2:00 p.m., when the Jackets play William Jewell College from Liberty, Mo.

MidAmerica Nazarene University – 70
Graceland University – 62

The Graceland University women’s basketball team played a great all-around game versus the Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene University at home in Lamoni, Iowa but the Jackets fell short by a final score of 70-62.

The Jackets led most fo the first half but a final run by the Pioneers put them up by a score of 33-26 at the break. Graceland was playing one of their best games of the 2004-05 campaign and as they came out of the lockeroom they were ready to go to work once again.

The second half would b a see-saw battle that had the Jackets close the gap to four points twice but in the end the Pioneer’s offense was too much for the Jackets. The game was a dead heat in many categories as both teams had 20 turnovers, 14 steals and there shot percentages were very close but the Jackets edged the Pioneers 42.2 percent to 40 percent.

Leading the way offensively for the Yellowjackets was frosh Carley Coleman who had 16 points. Senior Jess Crockett had another steady game as she picked up 12 points in her effort. Frosh Kristin Osborn continued to shine as she had eight points, while pulling down seven boards and dishing out five assists.

Coleman and senior Amy Giehtbrock each picked up four steals, and Giehtbrock also blocked two shots on the night.

The Jackets will hit the road on Saturday the 5th as they travel to St. Charles, Mo. To take on the Lions of Lindenwood University. Tipoff is set for 2:00 pm.

Graceland 56
Missouri Valley 67

The Graceland University women’s basketball team took on the Vikings of Missouri Valley College in the Closson Center on Saturday, Jan. 29th and played a first half that had head coach Laura Pollard feeling good about her squad’s performance. The second half would prove to be an all too familiar situation for the Yellowjacket hopeful as the Vikings outscored the Jackets 37-19 to steal a road victory with a final of 67-56.

The team went into the locker room with a 37-30 lead at the half and leading the way were Jess Crockett and Kristin Osborn who each had nine points. Osborn scored all of her points from beyond the arc as she went 3-6.

Osborn ended up a game high scorer with 15 total points while Amy Giehtbrock scored 11. Jess Crockett ended the game with a double-double as she also scored 11 points while pulling down 12 rebounds.

The Jackets will next hit the floor on Feb. 3rd as they will host MidAmerica Nazarene University at 5:30 in Lamoni.

The Graceland University Department of Athletics and Admissions invites junior high and high school hoops teams to attend Yellowjacket Day, sponsored by American State Bank, on Saturday, January 29, when Graceland basketball hosts Missouri Valley College from Marshall, Mo. Coaches, players and families are invited to watch the women play at 2:00 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 4:00 p.m.

This event provides teams the opportunity to experience an NAIA college basketball game, meet with coaches and players, talk with an Admissions Counselor and visit campus. Families of all student-athletes are welcome and encouraged to attend, for they are an important factor in making college decisions.

Admission to the game is free and registration will be located in the Closson Center in Lamoni, Iowa, prior to the game. Please RSVP by contacting Admissions online at admissions@graceland.edu or by phone at 866-GRACELAND no later than January 22nd.

Freshman Brittany Sliger hit three shots from behind the arc on her way to scoring 15 points for the Yellowjackets against Northwestern College in the Dordt College Tournament. Graceland lost the game 61-107.

Seniors Jessica Crockett and Amy Giehtbrock each scored 10 points, had four assists and two steals in the game. Crockett added seven rebounds and Giehtbrock grabbed five. Junior LaShonda Davison scored nine points and six rebounds, hitting seven of eight from the charity stripe.

The Graceland women next travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to play Grand View College on January 2 at 4:00 p.m.

The Graceland women’s basketball team will play Northwestern College Friday, December 30 in Sioux City, Iowa at 1:00.

The Yellowjackets lost to Dordt College 25-70 on Thursday night in the Dordt College Tournament.

Senior Jessica Crockett had four steals added to her five rebounds against Dordt. Junior LaShonda Davison pulled down seven rebounds and had two assists. Junior college transfer blocked two shots throughout the game.

The Graceland women are now 1-13 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Junior Jodi Butler scored 13 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and swatted four shots against Lindenwood University Saturday afternoon in Lamoni, Iowa. The Graceland women lost 50-72 to the Lions from St. Charles, Mo.

The women started the night with a strong first half, stepping into the locker room at the break tied with the Lions at 27 apiece. In the second half, the Jacket ladies couldn’t hold off the 6-10 sharp shooting three-point performance of the Lions, and ended the game down by 22.

Giehtbrock matched Butler’s 13 points and added three blocks, two assists and two steals of her own. LaShonda Davison grabbed seven rebounds for the Yellowjackets.

The Graceland women will take a two-week break before playing in the Dordt College Tournament Sioux City, Iowa on December 29-30.

The Graceland University women’s basketball team ended a ten game drought by snubbing the Lady Statesmen of William Penn University 62-55. Graceland earned their first win of the 2004-05 campaign in a game that they led from post to post.

The Jackets had five players score in double digits on the night and leading the way were Amy Giehtbrock and LaShonda Davison who had 13 each. Jess Crockett had 11 for her effort and both Kristin Osborn and Jodi Butler chipped in with 10 points in the Jackets victory.

Butler and Giehtbrock led the way on the boards with 10 and eight respectively.

The jackets had a great team effort on both end of the floor and the statistic that stands out most is the team’s shooting 41 percent from the field. If the Jackets can keep up the hot hand from the field the wins should start rolling in.

Graceland next hits the floor Thursday Dec. 9th at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, game time is set for 5:30 pm. Next home game for the Jackets is Sat Dec. 11 at 2:00pm in Lamoni, Iowa.

The Graceland women’s basketball team returned home Thursday, Dec 2 to take on the Wildcats of Culver-Stockton College at the Closson Center in Lamoni, Iowa. Graceland ended up on the short end in a 50-63 loss.

The game was a hard fought battle but at the conclusion of the first half the Jackets were down 23-32.

The second half had the Wildcats firing and the Jackets found themselves deep in a hole but they were able to claw their way back into the game. Culver-Stockton out scored Graceland 31-27 in the second frame and went on to a 63-50 victory.

All but one of the Yellowjackets scored on the night and leading the way was senior Amy Gietbrock who had 10 points. Behind Gietbrock was Margo Iglesias with nine and LaShonda Davison with seven points.

The Jackets had everyone chipping in tonight both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball but they will have to improve on their 29.3 percent shooting from the field on Saturday, December 4th as they travel to Marshall, Mo. to take on the Vikings of Missouri Valley College at 2:00 pm.

Senior captain Amy Giehtbrock hit 7-11 total shots and two of four three-pointers to score 17 points in Graceland’s 51-53 loss to Grand View College Friday night in Lamoni, Iowa. Giehtbrock also had seven rebounds and one blocked shot.

Senior Jessica Crockett also scored in double digits with 10, added to her five rebounds and three steals. Captain Lashonda Davison grabbed seven rebounds during the game. Point guard Margo Iglesias had seven assists and three steals.

The ladies next host Hastings College Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. in the Closson Center Gymnasium.

The Graceland women’s basketball team fought back from a 20-point second-half deficit to come within four of William Penn University, but time ran out and the Yellowjackets lost 62-66 Tuesday night in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Newcomer Jessica Meyer hit 5-9 from behind the arc and lead the team in scoring with 18 points. Senior Jessica Crockett was close behind with 16 points and nine rebounds. Margo Iglesias was a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe, and added 12 points to the Graceland total.

The women play in Lamoni this Friday night against Grand View College from Des Moines, Iowa. The junior varsity team will start the evening at 4:00, followed by the varsity women at 6:00 p.m.

Michelle Acosta, Graceland University's first women's basketball All-American, has been offered a professional contract to play for the Auxjo Queens in Auxjo, Sweden. Michelle's departure date is scheduled for October 10.

The Midland, Texas native was recruited by coaches Bill Dudek and Opie Butler in 1999. Michelle played her four years at Graceland University for former coach and now Director of Athletics Dan Hanton as she scored 1986 points, earned 568 assists and came up with 486 steals during those four years. Michelle holds 18 separate basketball records at Graceland.

The former team captain and three-time MVP was named the "Freshman Player of the Year" her first season in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and garnered All-Conference honors in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

As an All-American in 2003, Acosta was 4th in the Nation in scoring supporting a 21.0 ppg average. Noted for her outstanding quickness, she help lead the 2002-2003 Lady Yellowjackets to the most season wins in the school's history.

"Michelle is one of the finest basketball players that I have had to opportunity to coach in my 37 year coaching career,” stated Hanton concerning his former point guard. “Her quickness, floor awareness and jumping ability will be a great advantage at the next level of play. Coach Vic Knight of the Auxjo Queens is signing a gem of a player. He will not be disappointed!"