Shepard Earns Preseason All-Big Ten Honor

Lincoln - Nebraska's Jessica Shepard claimed a spot on the Preseason All-Big Ten Women's Basketball Team as chosen by the conference coaches and media for the 2016-17 season.

Shepard, a 6-4 sophomore forward from Fremont, Neb., is coming off a first-team All-Big Ten campaign in 2015-16. Shepard averaged team bests of 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on her way to Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year honors in 2015-16. She started 29 games and helped the Huskers to an 18-13 overall record that included a 9-9 Big Ten mark.

Last season, Shepard became the first Nebraska player in history to earn first-team all-conference honors as a true freshman, while also becoming Nebraska's first Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She set a conference record by capturing 10 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards and was a two-time USBWA National Freshman of the Week. She also became the first Husker in history to produce a 30-point, 20-rebound performance, putting up 35 points and grabbing 20 boards in a 93-81 win at Michigan on Jan. 24, 2016.

Ohio State junior guard Kelsey Mitchell was voted the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches, while Indiana junior guard Tyra Buss, Michigan junior guard Katelynn Flaherty and Maryland seniors Brionna Jones and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough were also unanimous preseason all-conference selections. Mitchell, who was also the media's player of the year, and Walker-Kimbrough were the only unanimous choices by the Big Ten media representatives.

Shepard and the Huskers will hit the floor for the first time under Coach Amy Williams when they take on Southwest Baptist in exhibition action at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m. The Huskers open the regular season with the Preseason WNIT against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m.

2016-17 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team

• TYRA BUSS, Jr., G, Indiana
• Ally Disterhoft, Sr., G, Iowa
• BRIONNA JONES, Sr., C, Maryland
• SHATORI WALKER-KIMBROUGH, Sr., G, Maryland
• KATELYNN FLAHERTY, Jr., G, Michigan
• Tori Jankoska, Sr., G, Michigan State
• Jessica Shepard, So., F, Nebraska
• Nia Coffey, Sr., F, Northwestern
• KELSEY MITCHELL, Jr., G, Ohio State (Player of the Year)
• Teniya Page, So., G, Penn State

2016-17 Coaches Big Ten Preseason Top Three Teams

1. Maryland
2. Ohio State
3. (tie) Indiana and Michigan State

2016-17 Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team

• Tyra Buss, Jr., G, Indiana
• Ally Disterhoft, Sr., G, Iowa
• Brionna Jones, Sr., C, Maryland
• SHATORI WALKER-KIMBROUGH, Sr., G, Maryland
• Katelynn Flaherty, Jr., G, Michigan
• Tori Jankoska, Sr., G, Michigan State
• Carlie Wagner, Jr., G, Minnesota
• Jessica Shepard, So., F, Nebraska
• Nia Coffey, Sr., F, Northwestern
• KELSEY MITCHELL, Jr., G, Ohio State

2016-17 Media Big Ten Preseason Top Three Teams

1. Maryland
2. Ohio State
3. Indiana