Antillon, Williams Earn All-Big 12 Honors

AMES, Iowa – Nychole Antillon and Sami Williams were both named to the 2018 All-Big 12 Second Team, the league office announced Wednesday. It is the second all-conference honor of Williams' career, while Antillon, a senior, is a first-time selection by the league's head coaches.

Antillon is putting together the best season of her career as a senior. The native of Orange, Calif., is putting up career-high numbers at the plate with a .284 batting average and seven home runs, with 26 RBIs, tied for most on the team. The infielder has started 52 games, and has stepped up for the Cyclones in Big 12 play, increasing her batting average to .333 with five home runs against conference foes.

Williams has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Cyclone offense in the lead-off spot. The sophomore is batting .384 with 14 doubles, 26 RBIs, 11 home runs and is a perfect 12-of-12 on stolen base attempts. Williams' 11 home runs are tied for third-most in a single season in school history. She helped lead the Cyclones to a single-season program record of 43 home runs in 2018. The native of Laguna Niguel, Calif., as started all 53 games a shortstop this season.

This is the first time since 2015 that Iowa State has had multiple players earn All-Big 12 honors.

The Cyclones and first-year head coach Jamie Pinkerton will be back in action this weekend at the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City, Okla. Iowa State is the No. 6 seed, and will face No. 4 Texas (11 a.m.) and No. 1 Oklahoma (7:30 p.m.) on Friday.