MIAC Release

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2008-09 MIAC Women's Basketball Awards today, March 5, 2009. Bethel University placed five individuals on the various all-conference teams, including Annegret Nautsch (Sr., Everett, Wash.), Autumn Beasley (Fr., Medina, Minn.), Shana Grejtak (So., Franklin, Minn.), Taylor Sheley (Fr., Backus, Minn.), and Kristen Wolters (Jr., St. Cloud, Minn.).

As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC announced the third annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women's basketball. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition. Grejtak was Bethel's representative on the team.

Nautsch earned All-MIAC recognition for the third season in a row, and first team honors for the second consecutive season. Nautsch was vital to the Royals success in the regular season as well as during their playoff run. She averaged 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game this season, making her the only player in the conference to average a double-double. One of the most feared and respected players on the court, Nautsch led the nation in blocked shots with 118 making her the MIAC record holder as well. She finishes her career as the school record for rebounds with 945 and eighth in scoring with 1,248 points.

In her first year of collegiate basketball, Beasley turned some heads. Her electrifying play led her to being named to the All-MIAC First Year team in addition to her All-MIAC Honorable Mention. Beasley led the Royal team in points per game this season, with 12.7 despite not starting for the first 10 games. Her scoring average was also good for tenth in the conference. With the regular season dwindling down, Beasley had her highest scoring output on the year when she posted 27 point against Carleton in an 89-58 Royal victory. Autumn's play during the stretch run of the season helped propel Bethel to its first MIAC playoff appearance in three seasons, and its first playoff victory in more than a decade.

Sheley was another newcomer that became an impact player for the Royals once she became a starter and joins Beasley on the All-MIAC First Year team. The point guard ran Bethel's offense and averaged 10.4 points per game. At one point, Sheley scored 10 or more points per game for 10 consecutive games, including a pair of season high performances with 19 points. She made more than 43 percent of her shots from the floor and also recorded 24 blocked shots as well as 56 steals.


One of the key components to the Royals success this season was Wolters. For her effort this season, she received All-MIAC Honorable Mention. Wolters averaged 7.7 points per game and was second on the team in assists per game with 2.4. Her presence both inside and outside made her a constant threat to the opposition. Not only could she drain the three-point shot, but she also averaged better than five rebounds per game on the season.


Grejtak was the third newcomer to Bethel's starting lineup to make a positive impact during the 2008-09 campaign. The sophomore transfer tied for the second highest steal total in conference play and was always in pursuit of the ball. Grejtak averaged 6.3 rebounds and 5.8 points per game and made 46 percent of her shots from the floor. Her delegation to the MIAC's All-Sportsmanship team is her first recognition from the conference.