Williams Leads Fighting Scot Trio on All-NCAC Team
Sophomore guard earns first-team all-conference status; LaLonde and Fanelly also honored
The College of Wooster's trio of Spencer Williams, Alex LaLonde, and Dan Fanelly were each named to the All-North Coast Athletic Conference Team, earning first-team, second-team, and honorable mention accolades, respectively, as announced by the league office Monday.
Williams, a sophomore, leads the Fighting Scots' traditional balanced offense with 14.6 points per game. A very efficient scorer for a shooting guard, he's making nearly 50 percent of his field goals (.463), and at one point, led the NCAC in 3-point percentage (currently at .427). After struggling a bit at the free throw line early on, he has made 85.0 percent (51-of-60) since Jan. 6, upping his season rate to .758. Additionally, Williams has improved his rebounding (3.1 rpg) and defense (1.0 steals per game) from his freshman year.
LaLonde was Wooster's top defender before the senior forward's career came to an unfortunate end due to an illness. He regularly held the opposition's leading scorer under their scoring average, while producing a stat line of 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.0 steals. LaLonde ranks top-five in the league in a couple of categories – third in assist-to-turnover ratio (+2.6 per game) and fourth in blocked shots (1.4 bpg). Offensively, he scored double figures in four of his last seven games, highlighted by 23 points to help the Scots defeat nationally-ranked Ohio Wesleyan University on Jan. 27.
Fanelly, who earns a second career all-conference award, has made his presence felt on the court once again. The junior forward is putting up 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 1.6 steals in just 19.1 minutes per game. He's able to accumulate points quickly due to rating third in the NCAC with a .609 field-goal percentage, which includes 12-of-27 3-pointers, and second with a .794 free throw percentage. Also an impact player on the defensive end, Fanelly sits seventh in steals and ninth in blocked shots.
Wooster is currently preparing for its NCAA Div. III-record 14th consecutive appearance in the national tournament, as the Scots will be in Washington, D.C., for first- and possibly second-round action this March 4-5. The Scots will face No. 14 ranked Lancaster Bible College (27-0) in the opening game there, with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m. Friday.