TOWSON, Md. - A story of strength, determination and overcoming adversity is the story of Kionna Jeter; a redshirt-junior guard on the Towson University women's basketball team. Announced by the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) today, Jeter is the recipient of the 2019 John Randolph Inspiration Award.

The award is named after former William & Mary athletic director John Randolph, who lost a courageous battle with cancer in 1995. It is presented to individuals who through strength of character and human spirit serve as an inspiration to all to maximize their potential and ability for success.

In the summer of 2018, Jeter signed to play at Towson University for the women's basketball team after transferring from Gulf Coast State in Panama City, FL, where she averaged 19.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. During her final year at Gulf Coast State, she returned home to Spartanburg, SC, for a funeral and was shot twice in the back during a drive-by shooting. One bullet traveled close to her heart and one fractured her shoulder blade. Unsure if she would even survive the wounds, she certainly never thought she would play basketball again.

After rehabilitating from her injuries and physical therapy, a strong-minded optimism brought her back to the hardwood.

She led Towson to its highest-ever seeding entering the CAA Championship and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.  For her efforts, she was recognized as a First-Team All-CAA honoree and also named to the CAA All-Defensive Team and the CAA All-Tournament team.

In the Tigers' first NCAA game, Jeter led the team with 20 points and had a game-high seven steals. She was named the CAA Player of the Week three times en route to leading the conference in points per game and steals per game. She finished with 572 points on the season, the second-most points scored in a year in program history.

Jeter started in all 33 games, at one point was seventh in the nation in scoring and steals per game. In 28 games she scored 10 or more points, she recorded a double-double on two separate occasions, once in the regular season against James Madison (16 points, 10 rebounds) and in the CAA Championship quarterfinals against Delaware (30 points, 10 rebounds).

Jeter's story captured national attention as she was a finalist for the 2019 Honda Inspiration Award, presented by the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards.