Augusta, GA
Clayton State's Jones, GCSU's Warren Named PBC Selections for NCAA Woman of the Year
AUGUSTA, GA — Clayton State’s Ariyonna Jones and Georgia College & State University’s Jada Warren have been named the conference-level selections for the NCAA Woman of the Year. The two will be among the 46 Division II student-athletes advancing in the selection process after being chosen from all PBC institution nominees for the award. The selections were made by the Peach Belt Senior Woman Administrator committee.
A member of the Clayton State track & field team, Jones graduated with a degree in psychology & human services, carrying a 3.59 cumulative GPA. Named to the CSC Academic All-District team, she was also named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and the PBC Presidential Honor Roll. A member of the Clayton State student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC), she also volunteered with the Community Teen Coalition.
On the track, Jones earned both indoor and outdoor USTFCCCA All-Southeast Region mention. The native of Dublin, Ga. broke eight school records between the indoor & outdoor seasons including shattering the 200m dash and the 400m dash records in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. At the PBC Outdoor Championships, she earned the conference crown in both the 400m dash (55.75) and in the 200m dash (24.26) and in the 4×400 meter relay (3:53.00) and took second in the 4×100 meter relay. Also at the Championships, Jones clocked NCAA DII provisional times in the 200m and the 400m dash. She also was a three-time all-conference finisher in the Indoor PBC Championships earlier in February. She was key as the Laker women’s track & field team placed second, as a team, in the Outdoor Championships, which is the best finish in program history.
Warren graduated from GCSU with a degree in exercise science with a 3.64 cumulative GPA. From Norcross, Ga., she graduated cum laude and received the GCSU Student Leader of the Year Bobcat Award. A member of the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and Presidential Honor Roll, she was a CSC Academic All-District selection, a member of the GCSU honors college, and named to the Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society. She also served in the GCSU student government, the Black Student Alliance and in the LIFE Mentorship Program.
On the court, Warren averaged 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 points this season for the Bobcats. Warren, who pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds against Columbus State University, grabbed 256 rebounds and shot 44.0 percent (40-of-91) from the field. She also collected 22 blocked shots, 21 assists and 13 steals. Warren was 50th in NCAA Division II and led the PBC in rebounds. She was also first in the Peach Belt in rebounds per game (8.8). Warren finished seventh in the league in blocked shots.
The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee will announce 30 finalists – 10 from each division – later this fall, then narrow that to the top three nominees in each division. The NCAA Woman of the Year award will be presented at the NCAA Convention in Nashville in January.