MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State women's basketball team wrapped up its highly successful 2006-07 season on Saturday night as the Cardinals held their annual postseason banquet at the BSU Alumni Center. The Cardinals handed out individual honors and reflected on their history making 24-7 season. Ball State alum and nationally known writer Don Yaeger was the night's key-note speaker.
Highlighting the awards on the night were seniors Becca Bajorek (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales), Tina Bolte (Columbus, Ind./North) and Kelsey Corbin (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop). Bajorek and Bolte shared one of the top honors of the night as they were co-recipients of the Cardinal Pride Award. The Cardinal Pride Award is given to the player(s) who sacrifices for the good of the team and will do anything for the sake of the team.
Corbin picked up the Most Valuable Player honor at the banquet for her role in the Cardinals' Mid-American Conference West Division championship. She finished the season second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points, first in assists at 149 and led the team with a 53.4 field goal percentage. She also became the first Cardinal all-time to score 1,000 career points, dish out 400 career assists and grab 400 career rebounds. Bajorek and Corbin also shared the Team Captain honors this past season.
Junior forward Julie DeMuth (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) also took home some hardware as she earned the Offensive Award for the second straight season. She also picked up the Rebounding Award and the Free Throw award on the night. She led the Cardinals in scoring at 15.5 points per game, in rebounding at 8.8 boards per game and set the Ball State single season record with 167 free throws.
Freshman guard Audrey McDonald (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) claimed the Three-Point Award as she finished the year 62-of-155 (.400). Her 62 three-pointers are sixth most all-time and the most ever by a freshman in BSU history. Sophomore guard Porchia Green (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) garnered the Defensive Award while junior forward Lisa Rusche (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) took home the Most Improved Award for the second straight season
The Cardinals also handed out two scholarship awards on the night to cap off the festivities. McDonald was honored with the Rene? and Phil Feeney Memorial scholarship. The Feeney scholarship was established in 1995 and is awarded to the player who demonstrates passion and commitment to basketball and academics.
Sophomore guard Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington, Ind./North H.S.) was also honored as she received the Amy Lindsay Fuller Memorial Scholarship. The Fuller scholarship was established in memory of former BSU standout Amy Fuller who was a two-year letterwinner at BSU and whose life was cut tragically short in an automobile accident on Nov. 28, 2004. The scholarship was established for two reasons: to assist with a scholarship for Amy's son ? Aaron Cordell ? and two honor a played who emulates Amy's individual qualities and characteristics.
The final award on the night was a new honor as WCRD Radio member Kyle Trompeter took home the first-ever Tom Hammond Memorial Fan or Media Appreciation Award. The Tom Hammond Award is in honor of longtime BSU public address announcer Tom Hammond who past away earlier this month.
CARDINAL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Team Captain Recognition
Kelsey Corbin & Becca Bajorek
Offensive Award
Julie DeMuth
Three-Point Award
Audrey McDonald
Defensive Award
Porchia Green
Rebounding Award
Julie DeMuth
Free Throw Award
Julie DeMuth
Most Improved
Lisa Rusche
Cardinal Pride Award
Becca Bajorek & Tina Bolte
Most Valuable Performer
Kelsey Corbin
Feeney Memorial Scholarship
Audrey McDonald
Amy Lindsay Fuller Memorial Scholarship
Kiley Jarrett
Tom Hammond Memorial Fan or Media Appreciation Award
Kyle Trompeter
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