ATLANTA, Ga. - Smith College basketball junior
Virginia Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn.), and Emerson College senior
Bri Frongillo (Hopedale, Mass.) were named Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division III Coaches' All-America honorable mention, announced today by the organization. Additionally, Smith head coach
Lynn Hersey was recognized as a finalist for the WBCA Coach of the Year.
Johnson had a breakout year for the Bears, averaging career-highs in points (12.5), rebounds (7.1), three-pointers made (76), three-point percentage (.437), field goal percentage (.478), assists (45), steals (48), and minutes per game (27.3). The junior guard scored in double-figures in 20 games this season and earned NEWMAC All-Conference First Team honors.
Frongillo, who earned NEWMAC Athlete of the Year honors for the second straight year, ranks third among NEWMAC scoring leaders with her team-best 19.0 points per game on 42.3 -percent shooting (2nd NEWMAC), including 40.2-percent from three-point distance (2nd), while shooting a NEWMAC-best 90.3% from the free-throw line to rank fourth nationally in Division III. Frongillo averages 2.4 three-point field goals per game (4th), 3.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists (4th), and 1.4 steals per game in a NEWMAC-high 38.3 minutes per contest (12th nationally).
Hersey led the Bears to another historic season. Smith won its sixth-straight NEWMAC Championship, something no other men's or women's NEWMAC teams had ever accomplished. The Bears earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they earned a first-round win over Union before falling to Bates.
Smith concluded the season 28-2 overall with an 11-0 NEWMAC record. Hersey has now led Smith to an unprecedented eight straight 20-win seasons, five straight regular season titles, and picked up career win number 350 on January 31 against Springfield.
Joining Hersey in the esteemed group of finalists were Michelle Bilek (Chicago), Kelly Dunne (Nazareth), Brittney Kemp (Washington & Lee), Brad Fischer (Wisconsin-Oshkosh), Maureen Hirt (Denison), Alison Montgomery (Bates), Benjamin O'Brien (Scranton), Kendra Whitehead (Hardin-Simmons). Meg Barger of NYU earns her second consecutive WBCA Coach of the Year honor.
The WBCA NCAA Division III Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Coaches' All-America team are selected by the WBCA NCAA Division III Awards Committee from coaches and student-athletes who are nominated by WBCA member coaches.
About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit
WBCA.org for more details about the association.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.