Teammates and classmates Katie Donovan and Jaci McCormack were two of the five players selected for 2005 Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Conference by vote of the leagues coaches, media and media relations representatives.
Donovan, a first-team selection last year, leads the Birds with 13.9 points per game. The senior forward from Kingston, Ontario needs four assists to become only the third player in Redbird history to rank in the schools career top 10 in points, rebounds and assists. Donovan was the Valley scoring leader in 2003-04.
McCormack, a senior guard from Lapwai, Idaho, earns her first all-Valley recognition. A consistent player on offense and defense, she is the only player in the Valley to rank among the leagues top 10 in assists, steals and three-point field goals each of the past two seasons. She and Redbird legend Jenny Schmidt are the only players in Redbird history with 1,000 points, 300 assists, 150 steals and 150 three-point field goals.
The Redbirds meet SMS in the first round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday in Redbird Arena and will contend with the 2005 Valley Most Valuable Player in Bears senior guard Jenni Lingor. She and teammate Kari Koch were first-teamers for the Bears, as were Indiana States Melanie Boeglin and Ashley Clark, Northern Iowas Alex Cook and Cassie Hager, Creightons Angie Janis and Laura Spanheimer, Bradleys Dena Williams and Drakes Jill Martin.
Drake guard Linda Savayongchanh, SMS forward Nicole Lehman and Evansville guard Megan Liffick join Donovan and McCormack on the honorable mention team. Indiana States Clark is the Valley Newcomer of the Year and her teammate, Boeglin, is Valley Defensive Player of the Year, while Wichita State forward Kiki Stephens is the leagues Freshman of the Year.
The Valley Coach of the Year, won last year by Illinois States Robin Pingeton, will be announced at the tournament banquet Wednesday night. The tournament gets underway at noon Thursday with No. 2 seed Indiana State meeting No. 7 seed Bradley. The other afternoon session game begins at 2:30 p.m. with No. 3 seed Creighton vs. No. 6 seed Drake. After the Redbirds and Bears, No. 4 seed Northern Iowa plays No. 5 seed Evansville at 8:30 p.m. Semi-finals begin at 6 p.m. Friday, with the tournament championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday, all in Redbird Arena.
2005 All-Missouri Valley Conference Team
Jenni Lingor, SMS 5-10 Sr. Gd. Tahlequah (Okla.) High - MVP
Melanie Boeglin, Indiana State 5-6 Jr. Gd. Terre Haute (Ind.) South High
Ashley Clark, Indiana State 6-0 Jr. F Cincinnati (Ohio) Kent State
Alex Cook, Northern Iowa 6-0 Sr. Fwd. Decorah (Iowa) High
Cassie Hager, Northern Iowa 6-7 Jr. C Perry (Iowa) High
Angie Janis, Creighton 6-1 Jr. Fwd. Omaha (Neb.) Millard North
Kari Koch, SMS 5-8 Jr. Gd. Elsberry (Mo.) High
Jill Martin, Drake 6-2 So. G/F Norwalk (Iowa) High
Laura Spanheimer, Creighton 5-9 Sr. Gd. Omaha (Neb.) Marian High
Dena Williams, Bradley 6-4 Sr. C Columbia (Mo.) Hickman
2005 All-Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention
Name, School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown
Katie Donovan, Illinois State 6-0 Sr. Fwd. Kingston (Ontario) St. Thomas Aquinas
Linda Sayavongchanh, Drake 5-8 Jr. Gd. Des Moines (Iowa) Lincoln High
Megan Liffick, Evansville 5-10 Jr. Gd. Whiteland (Ind.) High
Nicole Lehman, SMS 6-0 Sr. Gd. Lamar (Mo.) High
Jaci McCormack, Illinois State 5-10 Sr. Gd. Lapwai (Idaho) Lake Oswego High
All-Freshman Team
Name, School Ht. Pos. Hometown
Kiki Stephens, Wichita State 5-11 F Tulsa (Okla.) Union - MVP
Brandy Dahir, Drake 6-1 F Carrollton (Texas) Creek View
Lindsay Whorton, Drake 6-0 F Independence (Mo.) Truman
Rebekah Parker, Evansville 5-10 G/F Silver Lake (Ind.) Tippecanoe Valley
Tiff Terwelp, SMS 6-2 F Quincy (Ill.) High
All-Defensive Team
Name, School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown
Melanie Boeglin, Indiana State 5-6 Jr. Gd. Terre Haute (Ind.) South High - MVP
Alex Cook, Northern Iowa 6-0 Sr. Fwd. Decorah (Iowa) High
Cassie Hager, Northern Iowa 6-7 Jr. C Perry (Iowa) High
Linda Sayavongchanh, Drake 5-8 Jr. Gd. Des Moines (Iowa) Lincoln High
Laura Spanheimer, Creighton 5-9 Sr. Gd. Omaha (Neb.) Marian High
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