Three From Women's Basketball Headed to NCAA Division I Schools

  MESA, AZ - Three of the sophomores who lead the Mesa women's basketball team to the NJCAA Division II national championship have signed to continue their careers at NCAA Division I schools.

  Peace Amukamara (So., Goodyear, AZ/Millennium H.S.) will make the short trip to Arizona State, while Madi Austin (So., Saginaw, Mich/Horizon (AZ) H.S.) and Mariah Willadsen (So., Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain H.S.) will head north to Northern Arizona University.

 They are, pictured left to right, Willadsen, Amukamara and Austin.

  Amukamara completed her outstanding career with perhaps the top set of awards ever for a Mesa basketball player. She was named national Player of the Year after earning first team All-America honors. She was also MVP of the national championship tournament as well as Region I tournament MVP two straight years. She averaged 14.1 points, 4.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game to lead MCC in each category.

  Austin was named second team All-American, along with first team all-region honors for two consecutive seasons. She had a 14.0 scoring mark and led Mesa with 6.9 rebounds per game.

  Willadsen was also twice a first-team all-Region I selection. She carried a 13.0 scoring average.

  During the trio's two years at MCC the T-Birds posted a 55-12 record, won two regional championships and finished first and second at the national tournament.