The National Junior College Athletic Association has named an AACC Women’s Basketball forward to its Division III All-American team.

Third-year sports management student Autumn Foster-Fields received an All-American honorable mention after averaging 14.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season.

Foster-Fields said she did not expect the award.

“I don’t think I’ve played my best season,” Foster-Fields said. “I think I could have played a little bit better than that. I felt like I was holding back more potential, but I’m happy that I got this award.”

Foster-Fields said her first season as a Riverhawk was her best.

“I came out as a freshman and I was the leading scorer for half of the year and then I messed up by not taking school seriously,” Foster-Fields said. “Kids need to know you need to take school seriously.”

NJCAA Region 20 named Foster-Fields first-team All-Region, qualifying her for the All-American designation.

“You have to be a first-team, All-Region honoree, which Autumn was, and then it goes to a vote on the national committee,” according to Assistant Athletic Director Hillary Fisher.

Foster-Fields said the honor means a lot to her.

“People were looking at me and recognizing me and giving me recognition for the things I can do on and off the court,” Foster-Fields said. “I’m thankful for all the people that mentioned me in this award, like my coaches and teammates.”

Foster-Fields she still practices basketball drills now that the campus is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

She said she appreciates her teammates and coach.

“I think this was the best athletic staff I’ve ever had, and I think that this is the best coach I’ve had playing basketball,” Foster-Fields said. “I’ve never played with a team that was stuck together like glue even outside of basketball practice.”

Women’s Basketball coach Lionel Makell said he is elated over any team or individual award.

“She worked hard the last three years,” Makell said, “two [seasons] on the court and one [season] off the court.”

Foster-Fields played in the 2017-18 season but sat out during 2018-19 because she was academically ineligible. She returned to the team this year.

Foster-Fields said more coaches from four-year colleges have reached out to her since NJCAA announced its all-American teams.

Women’s Basketball forward Lacey Hinkle said Foster-Fields deserves the All-American spot.

“She’s always been pushing hard in everything she does and if anyone on our team deserved it, it’d be her,” Hinkle, a second-year nursing student, said. “She had a remarkable comeback from last year to this year and it’s just a great triumph for her.”

Foster-Fields, who plans to graduate this spring, said she has not committed to a four-year school yet because she wants to focus on getting her degree.