The recognition is the latest award for Lehman, who finished a historic career earlier this month as a member of the Tigers’ NCAA Division II Sweet 16 team that finished 30-4 (best record in the program’s NCAA Division II history).
Lehman was also named to the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America First Team earlier today, so this is her second All-America First Team selection for the season.
Lehman is among four finalists for the WBCA Player of the Year. The WBCA presents the player of the year award annually to the top player in five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school). The winner will be announced during the Fifth Annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, in Tampa, Fla. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
The finalists are:
- Shareta Brown, 6’1″, Senior, Center, Wayne State University (Mich.)
- Aquillin Hayes, 5,8″, Senior, Guard, University of New Haven
- Kate Lehman, 6’4″, Senior, Center, Fort Hays State University
- Amy Philamlee, 5’5″, Senior, Guard, Union University
“Congratulations to each of these fine student-athletes on being named finalists for the 2015 WBCA Division II Player of the Year award,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Each student-athlete has played an integral role in guiding their respective team to an exceptional season, and is very deserving of this distinguished honor. The WBCA celebrates each of these finalists for their contributions to the game during the 2014-15 season.”
Lehman adds this to the list of post-season honors she has received this year. Below are the honors she has already collected…
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-America First Team
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association Central Region Most Outstanding Player
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-Central Region First Team
-MIAA Player of the Year
-MIAA Defensive Player of the Year (3rd straight year)
-All-MIAA First Team (3rd straight year)
-MIAA All-Defensive Team (3rd straight year)
-All-MIAA Tournament Team
-NCAA Central Regional All-Tournament Team
-CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America First Team
Maybe most impressive of the accomplishments is that Lehman was the only women’s player in Division II this year to earn All-America First Team honors for her accomplishments on the court and Academic All-America First Team honors for her efforts in the classroom.
Lehman finished the season with a near double-double average of 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, posting her best single-season scoring average as a Tiger. She finished with 655 points, 337 rebounds, and 141 blocked shots for the season, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field.
At the MIAA Tournament in early March, Lehman became the first women’s basketball player in Division II history to reach at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots in a career. But the point and rebound marks didn’t just scrape by. She nearly had 2,000 career points, finishing with 1,917, and pulled down 1,109 career rebounds. She recorded 515 career blocks (second most in NCAA Division II history) and is now the school record holder in career rebounds and blocked shots. She finished second all-time in scoring. She finished fourth all-time at any level of NCAA (Division I, II, or III) in blocked shots.
Lehman finished with 55 double-doubles and three triple-doubles in her career at FHSU. Her 167 free-throws made and 256 free-throw attempts in 2014-15 also set new single-season school records.
The WBCA presents the player of the year award annually to the top player in five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school). The winners will be announced during the fifth annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, in Tampa Bay. The event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four. The WBCA All-America Team is selected by a 10-person committee, comprised of one representative from each of the nine geographical regions and a chairperson.
Below is the WBCA All-America Team for 2014-15.
| Name | Institution | Year | Pos. | Height |
| Shaunteva Ashley | Augustana College | Senior | Guard | 5’8″ |
| Jada Blackwell | Cal State Poly – Pomona | Senior | Center | 6’1″ |
| Mariyah Brawner-Henley | Lewis University | Junior | Forward | 6’0″ |
| Shareta Brown | Wayne State University (Mich.) | Senior | Center | 6’1″ |
| Tori Faieta | Stonehill College | Senior | Center | 6’2″ |
| Aquillin Hayes | University of New Haven | Senior | Guard | 5’8″ |
| Kate Lehman | Fort Hays State University | Senior | Center | 6’4″ |
| Michelle Mitchell | Columbus State University | Junior | Guard | 5’9″ |
| Amy Philamlee | Union University | Senior | Guard | 5’5″ |
| Chontiquah White | West Texas A&M University | Senior | Center | 5’11” |
The following have been recognized as Coaches’ All-America Team Honorable Mentions in Division II:
| Name | Institution | Year | Pos. | Height | |
| Taylor Beverly | University of West Georgia | Senior | Forward | 5’11” | |
| Danielle Blake | Michigan Technological University | Junior | Forward | 6’0″ | |
| Alicia Brookins | Limestone College | Senior | Forward | 5’8″ | |
| Emily Caswell | Caldwell University | Senior | Forward | 6’0″ | |
| Erin Chambers | Simon Fraser University (BC) | Senior | Forward | 6’1″ | |
| Samantha Creed | Newberry College | Junior | Guard | 5’10” | |
| Mikaylah Glenn | California University of Pennsylvania | Sophomore | Guard | 5’7″ | |
| Kayleen Goggins | Montana State University – Billings | Senior | Forward | 6’1″ | |
| Anna Hackert | University of Southern Indiana | Senior | Forward | 6’1″ | |
| Kailee Howe | West Liberty University | Junior | Guard | 5’10” | |
| Stephanie Huffman | University of North Georgia | Senior | Guard | 5’9″ | |
| Lizzy Jeronimus | Pittsburg State University | Senior | Forward | 5’11” | |
| Jamie Johnson | Lewis University | Junior | Guard | 5’7″ | |
| Shanteona Keys | Georgia College and State University | Senior | Guard | 5’9″ | |
| Abby Kirchoff | University of Colorado – Colorado Springs | Senior | Guard | 5’11” | |
| Laurel Lindsay | Edinboro University | Senior | Guard | 6’0″ | |
| Emma Mahady | California University of Pennsylvania | Senior | Guard | 5’11” | |
| Kelly Mannix | Adelphi University | Senior | Guard | 5’10” | |
| Megan Mullings | University of Alaska – Anchorage | Junior | Forward | 6’0″ | |
| Suzanna Ohlsen | Seattle Pacific University | Senior | Guard | 5’7″ | |
| Morgan Pullins | Saint Mary’s University | Senior | Forward | 6’0″ | |
| Merissa Quick | Emporia State University | Senior | Forward | 6’3″ | |
| Erin Reichle | Colorado Mesa University | Sophomore | Guard | 5’6″ | |
| Jazzmine Robinson | Cameron University | Senior | Guard | 5’6″ | |
| Marla Simmons | Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Senior | Guard | 5’10” | |
| Jordan Spencer | Wayne State College (Neb.) | Senior | Forward | 5’11” | |
| DeAnna Thompson | Union University | Senior | Center | 6’2″ | |
| Anh-Dao Tran | Adelphi University | Senior | Guard | 5’6″ | |
| Kayk Wilson | Florida Institute of Technology | Senior | Guard | 5’7″ |
Below are the Record Lists that feature Lehman.
FHSU Career Records
1st all-time in Rebounds (1,109)
1st all-time in Blocks (515)
1st all-time in Free Throws Made (523)
1st all-time in Free Throw Attempts (787)
1st all-time in Double-Doubles (55)*
2nd all-time in Scoring (1,917)
2nd all-time in Field Goals Made (697)
Tied 2nd all-time in Scoring Average (15.8)
3rd all-time in Field Goal Percentage (.543)
6th all-time in Field Goal Attempts (1,283)
FHSU Season Records (Highest career total only)
1st in Free Throws Made (167 in 2014-15)
1st in Free Throws Attempts (256 in 2014-15)
1st in Rebounding Average (11.2 in 2013-14)
1st in Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
1st in Double-Doubles (20 in 2013-14)*
2nd in Rebounds (337 in 2014-15)
2nd in Scoring (655 in 2014-15)
Tied 4th in Scoring Average (19.3 in 2014-15)
4th in Field Goals Made (244 in 2014-15)
10th in Field Goal Attempts (422 in 2014-15)
FHSU Game Records (Highest career total only)
1st in Blocks (11, Kansas Wesleyan, 12/16/14)
1st in Free Throws Attempted (20, vs Central Missouri, 3/7/15)
Tied 8th in Field Goals Made (14, Missouri Southern, 1/3/15)
Tied 8th in Free Throws Made (12, last vs Central Missouri, 3/7/15)
Tied 10th in Rebounds (17, last vs Northeastern State, 2/28/14)
Unofficial MIAA Records (as of March 23, 2015)
1st all-time in Career Free-Throw Attempts (787)
1st all-time in Career Blocks (515)
1st in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 1st in Single-Game Blocked Shots (11, Kansas Wesleyan, 12/16/14)
Unofficial NCAA Division II Records (as of March 23, 2015)
2nd all-time in Career Blocks (515)
Tied for 3rd all-time in Career Triple Doubles (Three)
Tied for 4th in Season Triple Doubles (Two)
Tied for 5th in Season Blocks Average (5.3 in 2013-14)
6th all-time in Career Double-Doubles (55)
7th in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 17th all-time in Consecutive Double-Doubles (Nine in 2013-14)
Tied for 18th all-time in Single-Season Double-Doubles (20 in 2013-14)
Only Player in NCAA Division II history to record at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 blocked shots
* NCAA Division II Era Only