COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA
A year that saw 19 wins and a Region XI Championship is being capped off with the news that seven players from the 2019-20 squad have found their home for the continuation of their playing career and education.
Iowa Western Women's Basketball is proud to have five players, Sommer Blakemore, Nyah Morris-Nelson, Jaiden Morris, Solape Amusan, and Britney Epperson, move on to the NCAA Division 1 level and two others, Ladun Akako and LaShwan Sweet, to Division II and NAIA.
Blakemore signed with the University of Tulsa after two standout seasons at the guard position for the Reivers. Blakemore averaged 12.2 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and shot 40% from the field during her sophomore year. She also led the team in assists, dishing out 84 on the year. For her efforts, she was selected as an NJCAA Division 1 All-American for the 2019-2020 season, also earning the ICCAC Division 1 women's basketball player of the year. After her freshman campaign, Blakemore also played in the 2019 NJCAA top 40 All-Star game for her outstanding performance.
Amusan will move on to play with the University of Illinois. During her first and only collegiate season, Solo averaged 8.3 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Reivers. In addition to her work on the court, she was honored for her hard work in the classroom as an NJCAA all-academic performer. Her 3.6+ GPA also garnered her All-Academic honors from the ICCAC.
Nyah Morris Nelson has signed with the University of Montana. During her solo season at Iowa Western, Morris averaged 9.4 points per game, shooting 39% from the field and a staggering 39.8% from the three-point line. She also averaged 77% from the line and 3.6 rebounds per game. She was also honored as a first-team All-Academic for the ICCAC.
Jaiden Morris will finish out her collegiate career a little closer to home, signing to play with Norfolk State. The Richmond, Virginia native averaged 15.2 points per contest to lead the Reivers in scoring during her lone season in Council Bluffs. Morris was named First Team All-Region for her efforts in leading the Reivers to a Conference Title.
Britney Epperson will continue her career at North Dakota State University. During her lone season as a Reiver, Britney averaged 4 points per game and 4 rebounds per game respectively. She started in 16 of her 16 games played after she returned to the active roster after an injury. Britney was also honored for her work in the classroom, named as an NJCAA All-Academic performer in addition to earning ICCAC First-Team All-Academic honors.
Ladun Akako has signed with NCAA Division II's Academy of Art. During her sophomore season as a Reiver, Akako started in 16 of 20 games played, averaging five points and six rebounds per contest while shooting 45% from the field.
LaShawn Sweet has signed with NAIA Friends University. During her redshirt freshman season, the locally grown Sweet (Omaha, NE) saw action in 28 of 30 games where she shot 40% from the field. The team captain was also honored as an ICCAC First-Team All-Academic performer.
