Thompson Named ACCC Coach of the Year; Nekolna Player of the Year

HUNTSVILLE - The Shelton State women's basketball team won the two top honors in the 2025 Alabama Community College Conference post season awards. 

Madonna Thompson was named the 2025 ACCC Coach of the Year and sophomore center Julie Nekolna was named the 2025 ACCC Player of the Year.

Sophomore guard Makala Hobdy and freshman guard Alana Obianozie were First-Team All-ACCC selections and sophomore forward Lameria Thomas was a Second-Team All-ACCC honoree.

Thompson guided the Bucs to a 27-3 overall record and No. 6 national ranking headed into ACCC Tournament play. The Bucs were 14-0 in conference play, capping their 10th consecutive perfect season in league play. 

Thompson was named Coach of the Year for an astonishing 20th time in her career, including the 11th consecutive year. 

Nekolna led the ACCC in scoring (16.0) and field goal percentage (.595) this season. 

She started all 30 games and led the Bucs with 16 points and ranked second with 7.0 rebounds per game. She made 171-of-309 (.595) field goal attempts this year.

Nekolna posted 25 double figure scoring games, including two, 30-point games against Chattanooga State (32) and Lawson State (30). She also added five double-doubles. 

In ACCC play, she averaged 16.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. 

Hobdy led the nation with 7.2 assists per game in 29 starts for the Bucs. She is also the school's all-time assists leader. She recorded six double figure assists games, including a season-high 12 against Trinity Valley and Lawson State. 

She averaged 11.3 points per game and scored double figures 20 times. 

In ACCC play, she averaged 10 points and 7.2 assists per game. 

Obianozie was a three-time ACCC Player of Week honoree. She is also the first Bucs player to earn National Player of the Week honors.

She averaged 13 points, 7.3 rebounds, three steals and 2.6 assists per game in 30 starts. Her 7.3 rebounds were fifth in the conference.

She recorded 19 double figure games, including a season-high 33 points at Southern Union en route to national player of the week honors. 

In ACCC play, she averaged 16.3 points and three assists per game. 

Thomas led the ACCC with 9.1 rebounds per game. She finished with 13 double digit rebound games, including seven in her last eight games. She had a season-high 18 rebounds against Wallace State Hanceville.

She averaged 7.4 points per game and posted 12 double figure games. 

In ACCC play, she averaged 10.3 rebounds, including seven double figure games.