April 13, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State women's basketball team came together with family and friends inside Redbird Arena one last time Tuesday night. The site of so many thrilling games this past season hosted the team's annual year-end celebration.
The Redbirds had plenty of reasons to celebrate after another historic season in 2009-10. ISU tied the school wins record with 28, won a third-consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Regular-Season championship and made a run to the semifinals of the WNIT for the second-straight year.
Several team awards were presented at the event. Senior forward Ashleen Bracey received both the Rebounding and Free Throw Awards, leading the team in both categories this past season. Bracey averaged 7.8 rebounds per game, a career-best mark. She shot 88.9 percent from the free throw line, tying the school single-season record set by Beth Landes in 1980-81.
The Jill Hutchison Leadership award was presented to freshman center Megan Grace. The award, named in honor of the former Redbird head coach, is given to a player who exemplifies all of the characteristics of a Redbird women's basketball player.
Redbird seniors Bracey, Maggie Krick and Nicolle Lewis were all honored with framed jerseys and gave speeches, thanking the many people that helped them throughout their Redbird careers. In their four years together, the senior class compiled a record of 103-34, the most wins by a class in Illinois State history. The Redbirds won 20 games in each season, including three-consecutive 25-win seasons. They guided Illinois State to four-straight postseason appearances, a program first, three MVC regular-season titles, two WNIT Semifinals and the 2008 State Farm MVC Tournament title. The senior class was also the first to be comprised of three 1,000-point scorers.
To close out the night, the team and crowd were shown a highlight film of the season, narrated by ISU play-by-play announcer R.C. McBride and created by Redbird Productions.
