Kilat Fitzgerald / Winonan

After helping lead the Winona State University women’s basketball team this year to a 30-4 record and the first NSIC regular season championship in program history, senior guard Alexis Foley added another honor to her basketball resumé.

The D2CCA added Foley to the All-Region women’s basketball second team on March 15.

The No. 7 Warriors recorded their best season in program history, concluding with a 66-62 loss in the NCAA Central Region Tournament semifinals March 12.

The guard from White Bear Lake, Minn., who stands five feet, nine inches tall, played a pivotal role in establishing this successful season.

“It’s an honor to be recognized,” Foley said. “It’s an amazing team with amazing coaches; they just put us in a great position. I feel really blessed to be a part of it.”

Foley also was awarded first team All-NSIC honors this season and was placed on the NSIC All-Tournament team.

A committee of sports information directors made the selection for the D2CCA teams from NCAA Division II Central Region schools and conferences.

This is also the first season the Warriors are sponsored by the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners.

Winona State head coach Scott Ballard said Foley’s accomplishments were well deserved.

“There’s nobody more deserving than her,” Ballard said. “She’s a great competitor, great teammate, intelligent basketball player. She made everything so fun with a great attitude and work ethic.”

Foley’s confidence and mindset managed to rub off on the team. The rest of the Warriors did a good job of knowing exactly where she was on the court, feeding off the spirit and precision she brought to the game.

“The coaches know I’m left-handed, so they put me in a good spot,” Foley said.

Foley represented the Warriors with team-established highs, including an average of 15.1 points and 4 assists per game. She also posted a 45.5 percent rate of shots made from the field (175-of-385).

“She’s a fierce competitor,” junior forward Hannah McGlone said. “Always willing to do whatever she can do to help us out, to put us in a better position. None of us are willing to let another teammate down, especially not Foley.”

Foley’s career did not start in Minnesota, as she played her 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons at Illinois State University, where she scored 160 points in her first year and 164 her sophomore year. She then transferred to Winona State, where she currently studies math education.

Out of the 34 games played this season, Foley has averaged 3.6 rebounds each and 2.1 turnovers.

On eight different occasions this season, Foley scored more than 20 points, including a career-best 28 points in her final game as a Warrior. This latest performance was in the NCAA Regional Tournament game against Emporia State, which resulted in a close 66-62 loss despite her contribution.

Foley said she wanted to be a key factor for the team.

“I would hope that I made an impact,” Foley said.

It wasn’t the first time Foley has put the collective benefit of her team before herself, as McGlone recalls.

“One game that sticks out to me is when we were playing against Augie, and she took a hard hit to her quad,” McGlone said. “She’s not one to show anyone her pain. She was willing to keep going.”

The definition of Warrior spirit is well embodied by the achievements put forth by Foley’s efforts and commitment.

McGlone said she is grateful to have had Foley as a teammate.

“I feel lucky to have played these past two years with her,” said McGlone. “I wish I could’ve played more.”

Foley joins the ranking of other players from across Division II who stack up to her ability. The rest of the second team included Rosa Bryant from Southern Arkansas, Brittney Dietz from the University of Mary, Shelby Winkelmann from Central Missouri and Katria Nordick from the University of Minnesota-Crookston. All five players are seniors.

Foley said being named to the second team was similar to high school region teams.

“It feels similar to that transition from high school to college,” said Foley. “Like, you’re with people of a higher caliber from all across the region. It’s been a heck of a ride; I’m sad to see our season’s over.”

Ballard said he was grateful to have her on the team the last couple of years.

“I cherish every moment of the last two years she’s played,” Ballard said.

The Warrior’s head coach also gained recognition of his own, and was named the Central Region Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association on Monday.

Foley plans to student teach in the fall and finish her degree in December.