Belanger Makes History, Four Bulldogs Earn All-GLVC

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Hannah Belanger, Ellie Weltha, Alex Fanning and Gracie Stugart

Hannah Belanger became the first player in Truman women’s basketball history to be named GLVC Player of the Year.

Belanger was a unanimous first-team All-GLVC selection. Since the season concluded, she has also been named a first-team Division II All-Midwest region selection by the DII Conference Commissioner’s Association, and she was included on one of the most prestigious teams in all of college athletics as a second-team Academic All-American by the College Sports Communicators. Previously, she was a two-time Academic All-District selection, but garnered enough votes this season to make the 16-player first, second and third teams. The CSC Academic All-America program has been honoring student-athletes since 1952. Those selected must have a minimum 3.50 grade-point average and be a starter or important reserve on their team. Belanger is the first Truman women’s player to earn the Academic All-America award since 1991 and the fourth women’s basketball player in school history.

In total, four Bulldogs earned All-GLVC honors for the 2022-23 season, with Ellie Weltha, Gracie Stugart and Alex Fanning joining Belanger.

Weltha was named first-team All-GLVC for the second time in her career. She was 10th in points per game in the GLVC, averaging 15.4. She placed third in rebounds (9.1), fourth in field goal percentage (.561) and first in defensive rebounds (7.39).

Stugart and Fanning were named third-team All-GLVC. Stugart led the conference in assists per game with 5.07, along with a league-best 3.55 assist/turnover ratio. Fanning was 15th in rebounds per game in the GLVC with 6.0, 13th in assists with 2.54, tied for seventh in blocks with 0.75, and 11th in defensive rebounds with 4.61.

Belanger had a historic season for the Bulldogs, setting the record for most three-pointers made in a season with 92. She led the GLVC in most three-pointers made, field goals (212), total points (602), points per game (21.5) and three-point percentage (.465). She was top 15 in the GLVC in three other categories, including seventh in field goal percentage (.513), fourth in free throw percentage (.851) and 11th in minutes played (32.50).

This is the fourth time Belanger earned a unanimous first-team All-GLVC selection. She is the second Truman player to score 600 points in a season and the third to amass more than 1,800 points in a career.

Hannah Pinkston was Truman’s nominee for the 2022-23 James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award for basketball.

The Bulldogs finished the season at 20-10, 15-5 in the GLVC.
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