GREENWOOD, Ind. – Seniors
Emily Hege and
Emma Smith, along with sophomore
Feryal Defne Atli, were named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District Women's Basketball Team on March 24, selected by College Sports Communicators.
Hege, an exercise science major from Lexington, N.C. earning the distinction for the second consecutive year, averaged 6.2 points and nearly two assists (1.9) per game during her senior season. A 1,000-point scorer, she had her best scoring performance against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 1, leading the team with 16 points, three assists, and two steals while also draining two 3-pointers in the 63-53 win. Hege shot 36.1% from beyond the arc in her final season and started 20 games.
Smith, a professional studies major, led the Mountaineers in almost every major category from the point guard position. She led the team with 10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while recording multiple double-doubles. On Nov. 16 against Wofford, the season's fourth game, she scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting with 10 rebounds and seven assists. In a Jan. 10 win over Southern Miss, she scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Her season high of 19 points came against Marshall on 7-of-12 shooting. In her final regular-season game, the Vestavia Hills, Ala., native nearly recorded a triple-double with 13 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists.
Atli, a biology major from Mersin, Türkiye, started 29 games and played in all 30. The sophomore scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed four rebounds in a 66-38 win over Norfolk State on Nov. 25. She nearly recorded a double-double against Wofford, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting with eight rebounds. Playing a season-high 33 minutes against James Madison, she finished three rebounds shy of a double-double with 11 points and seven boards. Atli shot 49.1% from the field and finished with 179 points in her first season at App State.
To qualify for the distinction, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore, maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA and compete in 90% of the team's games or start at least 66% of them.
