Issued: March 6, 2003

CHANNING LEADS ALL-WIAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SELECTIONS

Kristi Channing

Janel Soppeland

Becca Spaeth

Brooke Wozniak

MADISON - UW-Eau Claire forward Kristi Channing (Sr.-Fall Creek) was voted the Player of the Year, topping the 10 individuals selected to the 2002-03 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Basketball Team, it was announced today by conference sports information director Matt Stanek.

Channing has led UW-Eau Claire to a 27-1 overall record and a 16-0 conference mark en route to their eighth conference title since the 1990 season. The Blugolds are just the third team in league history to finish the 16-game conference slate with an unblemished record. UW-Eau Claire (1999-2000) and UW-Oshkosh (1997-98) were the other squads to go undefeated in league action. This year, the Blugolds have also captured the WIAC Tournament title, an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and the No. 1 national ranking in the latest D3hoops.com poll.

Channing, a two-time All-WIAC First Team selection, ranks second in the league in scoring (15.2), fourth in field goal percentage (.531) and ninth in free throw percentage (.792). She surpassed the 1,000-career point plateau against UW-Oshkosh on February 12 and currently has 1,085 career points. For the second consecutive year, she is a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, an award given to the Division III women's basketball player of the year.

Channing becomes the fifth Blugold to win the conference player of the year honor, joining Vanessa Schley (2001), Jayme Anderson (2000), Erika Schmidt (1997) and Arlene Meinholz (1995).

Channing was joined on the first team by teammates Janel Soppeland (Sr.-Cadott) and Becca Spaeth (Jr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi). Soppeland ranks second in the league in three-point field goals made (1.78), sixth in assists (2.96) and seventh in free throw percentage (.800) and three-point field goal percentage (.340).

Spaeth ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage (.543), seventh in blocked shots (.96) and ninth in rebounding (6.4).

Brooke Wozniak (Jr-Stanley/Stanley-Boyd) was named to the All-Defensive Team as she led the conference in rebounding with 9.9 rebounds per game. Wozniak limited the opponents' second chances as she grabbed 5.55 defensive rebounds per contest.

The Blugolds' head coach Tonja Englund was voted the 2002-2003 Coach of the Year by the league coaches. She led her team to the 2003 regular and post season WIAC titles and has compiled a 69-14 overall record in her three seasons with Eau Claire.