Charles and Carpenter Named MSUB Male and Female Athlete of the Year

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BILLINGS, Mont. – For the second-straight year, Sam Charles (Men’s Soccer) and Alira Carpenter (Women’s Basketball) were named the Montana State Billings Male and Female Student Athletes of the Year.  The awards were announced at the MSUB Athletic Awards Banquet on Sunday, Apr. 19.

Charles, a junior forward from Chiswell, England, had a solid year.  He scored 19 goals with six assists for 44 points.  Charles set the school single season record in points and tied his own school record in goals.  He led the GNAC in goals per game (1.06) and points per game (2.44) and was fifth and sixth, respectively in NCAA Division II.

Charles was named to the All-GNAC first team for the second straight year, Daktronics All-West Region first team NSCAA/adidas All-West Region first team and was a Daktronics honorable mention All-American.  In addition Charles made Academic All-GNAC, CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team and CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American second team.

Carpenter, a senior guard from Lewistown, Mont., had a record breaking season as well.  She finished the season averaging 22.3 points and 3.6 rebounds a game while shooting 43.8% from the floor, 43.1% from 3-point range and 88.3% from the line.  Carpenter finished ranked among the top 25 in NCAA Division II in four categories; scoring (7th), three-pointers made per game (14th – 3.00), free throw percentage (17th) and three-point percentage (21st).

Carpenter been named to the all-GNAC first team, Daktronics All-West Region second team and State Farm Coaches All-Region 8 team.  In addition, was an Academic GNAC selection, CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team and CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American third team.  Carpenter earned All-American honorable mention on the State Farm Coaches and Division II Bulletin teams.

Carpenter leaves Montana State Billings with her name all over the record book.  She is the all-time leader in points (2000), field goals made (700), field goals attempted (1628), three-pointers made (294), three-pointers attempted (712) and free throw percentage (86.2%).  In addition Carpenter ranks among the top 10 in three-point percentage (2nd – 41.3%), free throws made (4th – 306), games played (5th – 113) and free throws attempted (9th – 355).  She is also the fourth leading scorer among female collegiate players in the state of Montana.