Issued: May 6, 2003

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HOLDS AWARDS BANQUET

The UW-Eau Claire women's basketball team handed out individual awards at their annual awards banquet held Sunday.

Kristi Channing (Sr.-Fall Creek) received the Most Valuable Player award for the second consecutive year. She was named to the Woman's Basketball Coaches Association and The Eastman Kodak Company Division III All-American Team following a season in which she averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. Channing was also named the Player of the Year in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and was a First Team All-WIAC selection for the second consecutive year.

The Team Captain awards were given to Channing and Janel Soppeland (Sr.-Cadott). Soppeland was a First Team All-WIAC selection as the third leading scorer on the team at 11.6 points per game. She average the most minutes per game while leading the team in three point attempts and makes. Soppeland was also second on the team in steals and assists.

The Most Improved Player award was given to Brooke Wozniak (Jr.-Stanley/Stanley-Boyd) for the second consecutive year. Wozniak was the leading rebounder in the WIAC at 10.3 per game and helped lead the Blugolds to the biggest rebounding margin in the conference. She also added six double-doubles on the year.

The Defensive Player of the Year award went to Katie Murphy (So.-La Crosse/Aquinas). Murphy led the team in steals with 78 while providing constant on-the-ball pressure at the point guard position.

The Rookie of the Year award went to Rachel Becker (Fr.-Gilmanton). Becker was a spark plug off the bench playing in 33 games while averaging 2.8 points in an average of 9.4 minutes played.

Kelly Guay (Sr.-Appleton/East) was the recipient of the Blugold Award.