Dec. 5, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
For the second time in three weeks, Illinois State freshman point guard Kristi Cirone has been named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week. Last week, the 5-foot-8 graduate of Chicago's Resurrection High School averaged 15.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game for the Redbirds, who are 4-1 heading into Thursday's game with Wisconsin-Green Bay.
In a win over South Alabama, Cirone scored 15 points and dished out four assists while pulling down four rebounds. At Ball State, her four three-point baskets in the second half helped the `Birds erase a 15-point deficit to take a second-half lead before falling 65-61. She finished the Ball State game with 16 points, five assists, two steals and no turnovers.
Cirone ranks No. 2 in the Valley in assists and No. 1 in assist/turnover ratio while scoring in double figures in all five games this season for Illinois State. As a starting freshman point guard, she has earned the trust of head coach Robin Pingeton.
"I'm really excited for Kristi," said Pingeton. "She is doing some tremendous things for us. It's a great indication of the bright future she has here at Illinois State. Not only is she a tremendous player, but she is constantly trying to get better. It's fun to coach a kid like that."
She averages 14.4 points, 6.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Redbirds, who are 4-1 for the first time since 1996-97.
It's the fourth time in the three-year history of Valley Newcomer of the Week that an Illinois State player has received the award (Holly Hallstrom and Megan McCracken, two of Cirone's teammates, earned the recognition last year).
It was a big week for point guards in the Valley as Indiana State's senior point guard Melanie Boeglin led her team to a pair of wins and earned State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors.
