Hale only underclassman named NAIA All-America First Team

March 24, 2016

NeNe Hale basketball

NeNe Hale

Anchorage’s NeNe Hale of Central Methodist University was one of four players considered for NAIA D1 women’s basketball national player of the year.

The sophomore settled for being named to the first team for the NAIA All-America Team. She was the only underclassmen among the first and second teams.

Hale, of Houston High fame, finished fifth in the country with a 19.7-point scoring average and led Central Methodist to a 26-5 season that included a trip to the national tournament.

She scored 24 points in a first-round loss to the University of Great Falls.

Hale also finished 12th in the NAIA in free-throw percentage [.822] and 13th in 3-point field goal percentage [.432]. Her 2.2 steals averaged ranked 32nd.

Seven times in 30 games she pumped in 26 points or more, including two games with 29 and two games with 30.

But if you really want to gauge her worth to Central Methodist just consider she played all 40 minutes in all three postseason games over the conference and national tournament.