Rio Grande's Skeens named RSC Female Athlete of the Year 2022-23
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Ella Skeens from University of Rio Grande (Ohio) capped off her career with another big honor -- 2022-23 River States Conferece Female Athlete of the Year. The senior on the RedStorm women's basketball team is identified as the top female athlete in the entire conference, which includes nine RSC championship sports for women. She was selected after a vote of the athletic directors in the conference.
A native of Chillicothe, Ohio, Skeens had another spectacular season for Rio Grande, her second year playing for the RedStorm. She was named RSC Player of the Year for the second season in a row, and she added NAIA Women's Basketball First Team All-America to her accolades. It was the first time any Rio Grande women's player made the national first team.
Skeens led Rio Grande to a record of 30-4 and its first trip ever to the round of 16 of the NAIA National Championship. She played in all 34 games averaging 23.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while also shooting 52 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point range and 83 percent from the foul line.
Skeens and Rio Grande won the RSC Championship for the second year in a row. She dominated the conference being named RSC Player of the Week six times during the season and NAIA National Player of the Week twice. She scored a school-record 50 points versus Asbury (Ky.) to win the first national weekly honor and put up 42 points just days later versus IU East.
Skeens came to Rio Grande after transferring from Dayton and Ball State. She is the sixth women's basketball player and the second one from Rio Grande to win the award. See below for past recipients since the award was established in 2009-10.
RSC/KIAC FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (SINCE: 2009-10)
2009-10 -- Valerie Kamuf, Brescia (Ky.) -- Women's Soccer
2010-11 -- Brittany Bird, Brescia (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2011-12 -- Ariel Nickell, Alice Lloyd (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2012-13 -- Lauren Crump, IU East -- Volleyball
2013-14 -- Ariel Nickell, Alice Lloyd (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2014-15 -- Brianna Thomas, Rio Grande (Ohio) -- Women's Basketball
2015-16 -- Julie Whitfill, Brescia (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2016-17 -- Anna Shields, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2017-18 -- Anna Shields, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2018-19 -- Anna Shields, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2019-20 -- Alyssa Campbell, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2020-21 -- Olivia Miller, Carlow (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2021-22 -- Alyssa Campbell, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2022-23 -- Ella Skeens, Rio Grande (Ohio) -- Women's Basketball