March 12, 2014
Valley Complete Release
ST. LOUIS - Illinois State finished the Missouri Valley Conference season in a tie for sixth place with an 8-10 record in conference contests. For the team's performance during the conference season, senior guard Chloe Nelsonearned All-Valley First Team accolades for the first time in her career, as announced by the league office Wednesday.
"Chloe is so deserving of MVC First Team honors," head coach Barb Smithsaid. "She embraced her role at the beginning of the year and excelled at it. Everyday Chloe attacks her day like there is no tomorrow. Her success story continues. Congratulations to Chloe on this outstanding accomplishment."
Nelson is the only Redbird to start every game this season and is the team's leading scorer with 13.7 points per game. Through 28 games, she has poured in 384 points and tallied double-digit performances in 21 games, including six-straight games with a double-digit scoring effort. Besides leading ISU in points per game, the Florissant, Mo., native also leads the Redbirds in assists (77) and free throw percentage (74.9) and ranks second on the team in steals (30).
Nelson, also a 2014 All-Valley Scholar-Athlete First Team selection, was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 26, after leading ISU in scoring at Princeton and Milwaukee. A member of the leadership team, Nelson netted a career-high 26 points in ISU's win over Florida (Nov. 29). She also pulled down a career-high eight rebounds against the Gators. Most recently, Nelson dished out seven assists at Drake (March 8), which was also a career-high. Nelson is in the top-12 in three categories in the Valley ranking, including scoring, assists and free goal percentage.
The Redbirds enter the 2014 Valley Tournament in St. Charles, Mo., as the No. 6 seed. ISU will play Friday at Family Arena at 8:37 p.m., against No. 3 Northern Iowa.
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