Print Story | Email Story

Issued: April 28, 2008

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES TEAM AWARD WINNERS

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – UW-Eau Claire head women’s basketball coach Tonja Englund announced the 2007-08 team award winners this past weekend at the team’s post-season banquet.

Michelle Burns (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Burns was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year and was the WIAC’s Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete. She also received honorable mention recognition on the State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team. Burns was selected to the All-WIAC first team and named a D3hoops.com All-Central Region Second Team selection. Earlier in the season she was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five Women’s Basketball Second Team. Burns led the Blugolds in scoring this season with 14.2 points per game and rebounding with 6.0 per game. She also recorded six double-doubles this season, the most on the team. Burns ended her career with the Blugolds ranked eighth on the team’s all-time career scoring list with 1,230 points and 10th in career rebounding with 664.

Receiving the team’s Defensive Player of the Year was Heather Witt (Jr.-Kendall, Wis./Royall). Witt was honored by the WIAC this season with All-Defensive honors and All-WIAC honorable mention recognition. Starting in all 30 games for the Blugolds, she led both the conference and the team in steals and assists with 31 and 110, respectively.

Hannah Mesick (Fr.-Chatfield, Minn.) received Rookie of the Year recognition. Mesick started in 28 games for the Blugolds this season. She was second on the team in field goal percentage with a .500 on 67-for-134 shooting. Mesick was also sixth on the team in rebounds per game (3.6) and in points per game (5.4).

Both Amanda Zenner (Sr.-Medford, Wis.) and Kali Houselog (Sr.-Neenah, Wis./St. Mary Central) were honored with the Blugold Award. Zenner was named to the WIAC’s inaugural All-Sportsmanship team and started in 28 games for the Blugolds this season. She was third on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game and 80 total assists. Houselog played in all 30 games for Eau Claire and averaged 11 minutes per game.

Jodi Lindner (So.-Neillsville, Wis.) was honored as the team’s most improved player. Last season Lindner appeared in 10 games and averaged less than one minute per game. This season she played in 12 games and averaged more than five minutes per game, making improvements in a number of statistical categories.

Captains Awards went to this season’s captains who were Zenner, Houselog and Rachel Mueggenborg (Sr.-West Salem, Wis.). Mueggenborg was also presented with an award for her school record breaking three-point performance. On February 26, she broke her own school record with nine three-pointers against River Falls in the WIAC Quarterfinal game.

The Blugolds finished the season with a 23-7 overall record and were WIAC co-champions with a record of 14-2. Eau Claire advanced to second round of the 2008 NCAA Division III Tournament before losing to Simpson College. It was the first time since 2003 the Blugolds appeared in the tournament.

- KM -

Go Back