April 20, 2006
Normal, Ill. -
Senior Holly Hallstrom, freshman Kristi Cirone and sophomore Ashley Sandstead received individual recognition at the 2006 Illinois State University Women's Basketball Awards Banquet Thursday in Redbird Arena.
More than 125 friends, family and fans were on hand as Hallstrom, the No. 2 rebounder in the Missouri Valley Conference, was recognized with the team's rebounding award. The team's only senior student-athlete, Hallstrom's 10.1 rebounds per game ranked No. 24 in the nation. She led the Redbirds in scoring with 14.0 points per game.
Cirone, the 2006 Valley Freshman of the Year, earned kudos as the team's free throw percentage leader with .804--second best in Redbird history for a freshman. Sandstead earned the annual Jill Hutchison Coach's Award, named for the Redbirds' hall-of-fame head coach from 1970-99. The Hutchison award recognizes a student-athlete who most personifies the qualities coaches appreciate most.
Pingeton mentioned the team's successes off the court. The teams' a 3.21 grade-point-average for the Fall, 2005 semester was the highest by a Redbird basketball team in nine seasons. The Redbird basketball team also contributed more than 200 hours of community service during the season, which saw ISU finish 12-16 overall, 7-11 in the Missouri Valley.
But, with 11 letterwinners returning for 2006-07, Pingeton is optimistic about a brighter future.
"I told our players when we got off the bus after the (2006) Missouri Valley Conference Tournament that, in the future, when we get off the bus following the conference tournament, I expect us to be preparing for post-season," said Pingeton.
