The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics named Siena Heights University women’s basketball senior April Watson first team All-American. Watson is the first player in program history to receive this honor.

“It’s a big accomplishment, it means a lot and I’m happy I got it,” said Watson.

This season, Watson averaged a team high of 19.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and finished the season with 22 double-doubles in 34 games.  She had season-highs of 35 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocks.

She mentioned how this honor is for the top 10 players in the NAIA, and that the people on that list work hard to get there.

“I wanted to be WHAC (Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference) player of the year, but being an All-American was still a goal. I focused on playing rather than being awards,” she said.

When asked about what it means to be the first Siena Height’s women basketball player to earn that honor, Watson said, “Things can get done without you knowing.”

Watson mentioned that many talented athletes played before her.

“To get it over those (players) before me makes this accomplishment amazing,” she said. “It’s so crazy. I am still in shock.”

Watson said she found out she was named first team All-American the day of the release.

“I was laying on my bed, I think, listening to music, when Matt, one of the softball coaches, texted me telling me congratulations on being first team All-American, right before my coach called me telling me I was the first player to get that award for women’s basketball,” she said.

On the Siena Heights career leaderboard, Watson finished eighth all-time in Siena’s scoring history with 1,073 points in just two seasons with the program. She also finished first all-time, averaging 16.8 points per game in her career and sixth all-time with 661 total rebounds. Watson also holds the single season rebounding record in the 2016-17 season with 383 total boards. She also completed her career with a SHU record 129 career blocks.

In her senior season, Watson helped lead the Saints to their fourth NAIA National Tournament appearance in school history, was honored as a member of the All-WHAC first team and All-Defensive Team, and was named player of the week three times.

Watson said after college, she still hopes to be playing basketball.

“Ninety to 100 (percent) sure I will be playing,” she said. “I am going to a combine in April where there will be coaches, and hopefully I will sign a contract to continue playing.”

If not, Watson still has her degree to fall back on.

“I would go into event management; it’s a job you can have fun doing and I want to have fun as I get paid.”