T-R FILE PHOTOS - Marshalltown Community College sophomores Kenijae Cherry, left, and Shenell Stewart have both been selected to the NJCAA All-Region XI third team, with Cherry earning Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team honors as well.

The two most impactful players on the Marshalltown Community College women’s basketball roster were honored accordingly on the season-ending all-region teams.

MCC sophomores Shenell Stewart and Kenijae Cherry both were named to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s All-Region XI third team for Division II, while Cherry earned additional honors for her defensive performance.

Cherry was named the region’s Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the five-player All-Defensive Team after leading the 12-team Iowa Community College Athletic Conference with 55 blocked shots during league play this season.

Overall, Cherry finished the year with 84 blocks, which ranked third nationally in NJCAA Division II. She was fourth in the country in averaging 2.9 blocks per game.

In the ICCAC, Cherry led the league with 2.6 blocked shots per conference game, ranked fourth in rebounding average (9.3) and added 6.5 points per game. The 6-foot-2 center from Las Vegas averaged 6.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots per game in her two-year career in Marshalltown.

Stewart played the pivotal role of point guard for the Tigers most of her career, providing the team with much-needed leadership on the court. The 5-foot-9 sophomore from Nassau, Bahamas, closed out her MCC career having averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.1 assists per game.

This season, Stewart led the conference in steals per game (3.0) during league play. She also ranked ninth in scoring (12.8), eighth in rebounding (7.5) and 18th in assists (2.1).

The Tigers finished the season with an 8-22 overall record and a 5-17 record in ICCAC D-II play. Kirkwood, Iowa Lakes and DMACC all qualified for the NJCAA National Championship out of the conference, with Iowa Lakes sophomore Reggi Spotts being named ICCAC Player of the Year.