ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University men's and women's basketball programs will send representatives to compete in the upcoming Addix Basketball Champions College All-Star Games.
On the women's side, the Thunder will have two players competing in seniors Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) and Cassidy Williams (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold).
Dawson, who was named All-American by both D3hoops.com and the WBCA this season, as well as being the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association "Most Valuable Player" for the third straight season and garnered first-team All-MIAA honors in back-to-back-to-back years, led the team in several statistical categories including: points (499), points per game (17.8), total rebounds (144), rebounds per game (5.1), free-throws made (92), free-throw attempts (119), field goals made (199) and field goal attempts (365). She was also among the team leaders in assists (46), blocked shots (10) and steals (31).
Williams was named first-team All-MIAA and third-team D3hoops.com All-Region for the first time in her career after finishing second on the team in scoring in 2018-19 at 12.5 ppg. while shooting 49.2 percent (120-of-244) from the field. She was second behind Dawson in free-throw shooting with 80 makes in 107 attempts for a 74.8 percentage. She was also second in three-point shooting converting 31-of-87 attempts (35.6 percent). Williams scored in double figures in 22 games, including a career-high effort of 21 points in a 64-43 win against Marietta (Ohio) College in late November.
Williams led the team, and was ranked fourth in the MIAA, in assists with 93 and was also tied for the team-lead in steals with 42. In addition, she ended the year among the team leaders in rebounding with 103 total boards (13 offensive and 90 defensive) and averaged 3.7 rebounds per game.
For the men, senior Pete Smith (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) will represent Trine following a season that saw him garner All-Region honors by D3hoops.com and NABC All-District accolades. In addition, Smith was selected first-team All-MIAA and became the second player in Trine history to be named MIAA Men's Basketball "Most Valuable Player."
Smith was one of the top three-point threats on the team and in the conference. He led both in three-pointers made (84) and attempts (217) for a 41.5 shooting percentage. He was second on the team in overall scoring with a 14.3 points per game average while shooting 44.8 percent overall (130-of-290). He scored in double figures in 22 games, including five games of 20 or more points with a season-high 26 points in a loss against Calvin (Mich.) College in which he made eight triples.
In addition to his shooting totals, Smith ended the 2018-19 campaign third on the team in assists with 81 and was among the team leaders in rebounding with 100 total boards (four offensive and 96 defensive) to average 3.7 rebounds per game.
Defensively, Smith led the team and the MIAA in steals with 45. He also had a pair of blocked shots.
Also participating in the men's All-Star game will be Trine Head Coach Brooks Miller who will help make up the three-man coaching staff for "Team Stripes." Miller led the Thunder to a 19-8 overall record and claimed the team's first MIAA regular-season championship with an 11-3 mark in conference play in 2018-19. Trine also advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship game for the first time since the 2015-16 season. In eight seasons as head coach of the Trine men's basketball program, Miller has posted a 124-86 record with six seasons of 15 or more victories. The Thunder have also qualified for the conference tournament in each of his eight seasons at the helm.
The All-Star games will be held March 27 at Hope College's DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland, Mich. The women's game will be at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.
Cost is $10 with $5 for kids or $20 for a family.
Proceeds go to Hope College's Children After School Achievement (CASA) program that, since 1987, has helped at-risk school children by providing free after-school tutoring and individualized summer school.
For a complete listing of the teams, please click here.