Dellinger, Knight Named as 2022 Anderson Outstanding Senior Athletes
The Anderson University athletics department has named Lexi Dellinger as its Outstanding Senior Female Athlete and Maurice Knight as its Outstanding Senior Male Athlete.
The Anderson University athletics department has named Lexi Dellinger as its Outstanding Senior Female Athlete and Maurice Knight as its Outstanding Senior Male Athlete.
Dellinger has competed in women's basketball for four years with the Ravens while Knight has competed in men's basketball for four years.
During her women's basketball career, Dellinger was named a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) first-team academic all-America, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Player of the Year and a four-time all-conference selection. Dellinger has also earned D3hoops.com first-team all-region honors, received academic all-conference three times, selected to the all-HCAC Tournament team twice, named HCAC Athlete of the Week five times and been selected to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week.
As a freshman, Dellinger averaged 14.4 points and 3.3 assists. Dellinger received All-HCAC Honorable Mention and was named to the All-HCAC Freshman Team. She converted 81-of-95 (85.3 percent) shots from the free-throw line and made 52-of-133 (39.1 percent) attempts from 3-point range. Dellinger ranked 19th in the nation in free-throw percentage and 40th in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage. Among HCAC leaders, Dellinger ranked first in free-throw percentage and third in 3-point field-goal percentage. She was also named as HCAC Athlete of the Week.
During her sophomore year, Dellinger posted averages of 14.9 points, 3.0 assists and 4.6 rebounds. Dellinger earned second-team all-HCAC honors. She was also named to the All-Wilmington Tournament Team and received academic all-HCAC recognition. Dellinger knocked down 59-of-65 (90.8 percent) attempts from the charity stripe and 53-of-131 (40.5 percent) shots from the perimeter. She ranked third in the nation in free-throw percentage and 31st in the nation in 3-point field-goal percentage. Among HCAC leaders, Dellinger ranked first in free-throw percentage, first in 3-point field-goal percentage, fifth in points per game, second in 3-pointers made per game (2.41) and sixth in assists per game.
As a junior, Dellinger contributed averages of 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Dellinger garnered first-team all-conference honors. She also earned HCAC all-tournament honors and academic all-conference recognition. Dellinger hit 90-of-197 (45.7 percent) shots from the floor, 28-of-80 (35 percent) attempts from 3-point range and 47-of-56 (83.9 percent) shots from the free-throw line. Dellinger finished 39th in the nation in scoring and 46th in the nation in free-throw percentage. Among HCAC leaders, Dellinger ranked third in points per game, second in free-throw percentage, second in field-goal percentage, second in 3-point field-goal percentage, T-3 in 3-pointers made per game (2.0) and seventh in assists per game.
During her senior year, Dellinger was tabbed as a CoSIDA first-team academic all-American as well as HCAC Player of the Year. Dellinger garnered D3hoops.com first-team all-region honors, first-team all-HCAC recognition, HCAC all-tournament team honors and academic all-HCAC recognition. She was named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week and was selected as HCAC Athlete of the Week four times. Dellinger posted averages of 21.9 points, 3.4 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.74 blocks. She made 199-of-431 (46.2 percent) shots from the field, 81-of-188 (43.1 percent) attempts from behind the arc and 111-of-126 (88.1 percent) shots from the charity stripe. Dellinger ranked nationally in several categories, finishing the season second in free-throw percentage, sixth in points per game, seventh in 3-point field-goal percentage and 14th in 3-pointers made per game (3.0), leading the conference in each category. Among HCAC leaders, Dellinger ranked fourth in assist-turnover ratio (1.39) and fifth in assists per game. During the home contest against Mount St. Joseph University, Dellinger broke the single-game school record with 11 3-pointers made during the contest. Dellinger helped key a postseason run that led the Ravens to the HCAC title game.
After becoming the eighth Raven in program history to score 1,000 points, Dellinger ascended to No. 2 on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,534 career points. She has drained 214-of-532 (40.2 percent) shots from 3-point range and 298-of-342 (87.1 percent) attempts from the free-throw line. Among Anderson career leaders, Dellinger ranks first in 3-point field-goal percentage, second in points per game (17.4), second in 3-pointers made, second in free-throw percentage, second in free throws made, second in 3-point field goals attempted, fourth in field goals (511), fourth in field goals attempted (1,186), sixth in assists (276), eighth in assists per game (3.14), eighth in free throws attempted (342) and 10th in blocks (37).
Dellinger is graduating with an Elementary Education major. She currently holds a 3.90 cumulative GPA. Dellinger tutors students in the Anderson Community Schools Corporation and takes part in community service at the women's shelter in Anderson.
Knight competed with the men's basketball team from 2017-2020, before returning for the 2021-22 season. As a junior, Knight was tabbed with HCAC Defensive Player of the Year, before following up in his senior season as both the HCAC Player of the Year and HCAC Defensive Player of the Year. Knight was a National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Reese's Division III All-Star and a consensus all-region selection. He was twice selected to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week. Knight has received eight career HCAC Athlete-of-the-Week selections, which ranks second in men's basketball conference history.
During his freshman year, Knight played in 24 games and started in 11. He contributed 5.9 points per game and 0.67 blocks per game. As a sophomore, Knight received all-HCAC Honorable Mention. He tallied averages of 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.15 blocks. Knight ranked second in the conference in blocks per game.
As a junior, Knight was selected as HCAC Defensive Player of the Year and garnered first-team all-HCAC honors. He earned HCAC Athlete of the Week three times and was also named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week. Knight turned in averages of 19.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.56 blocks. He led the conference in scoring and blocking, while ranking fourth in rebounding.
As a senior, Knight was tabbed as both HCAC Player of the Year and HCAC Defensive Player of the Year. Knight was selected to the NABC Reese's Division III All-Star Game. He garnered NABC first-team all-region honors and D3hoop.com second-team all-region honors. In addition to making his second career appearance on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week, Knight was selected as HCAC Athlete of the Week five times, which ties the single-season record for most selections by a men's basketball player in conference history. Knight produced averages 20.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.04 blocks, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals. He ranked 49th in the nation in scoring. Among HCAC leaders, Knight ranked second in points per game, third in blocks per game and fourth in rebounds per game. With Knight playing a key role, the Ravens closed out the regular season tied for second in the HCAC standings.
Knight became the 41st player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-career point barrier. He closes his career with 1,466 career points, ranked 11th all time in scoring as well as third in the Anderson D-III era. Knight has recorded 115 career blocks, which ranks third all time and first in the Anderson D-III era. In Anderson school history, Knight also ranks sixth in career 3-point field goals attempted (384) and ninth in career 3-pointers made (135). Knight is graduating with a Sport & Recreational Leadership major.