COLUMBUS, Miss. – The W women's basketball senior Mia Bowen (Buena Vista, Miss.) has been named NCAA Division III third team All-Region 8 by D3Hoops.com, it has been announced. Region 8 includes colleges and universities in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Bowen is the first-ever MUW student-athlete to be recognized as an NCAA III women's basketball all-region player, since the program was reinstated in 2018. Additionally, Bowen was the only player from a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) school to be honored on the 2025-26 D3Hoops.com All-Region 8 list.

"Mia Bowen had a really good year for us," The W Head Coach Eric Vaughn said. "She is definitely one of the most talented D3 players in the country. This is a big accomplishment for Mia, as well as for our school."

Bowen, a senior transfer to The W, found a home on the Columbus campus in 2025-26 after previously playing at Itawamba Community College and at the NCAA Division I University of Arkansas-Little Rock. 

And what a year it was for Bowen.

Bowen was voted first team All-SLIAC. She was also recognized on the SLIAC All-Defensive Team and was tabbed as the league's Defensive Player of the Year, after finishing the regular season as the NCAA Division III national leader in blocked shots per game, at 4.2 b.p.g. 

Bowen owns the MUW school record for blocks in a game (10), as well as in a season and career (both at 100), as well. Additionally, Bowen led the MUW team in scoring (17.6 p.p.g.) and rebounds (10.3 r.p.g.). She shot 42 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the free-throw line. 

On the season, Bowen had 13 double-double games, while scoring in double digits in 22 of her 24 games played. She had season highs of 32 points versus Lyon College (1/3/26) and 20 rebounds versus Westminster College (2/19/26).