EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - UW-Eau Claire women's basketball head coach Tonja Englund recently announced the team award winners for the 2011-12 season.
Ellen Plendl (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) was named the team's most valuable player along with the defensive player of the year.
Plendl, who was an All-Conference first team pick along with being named to the All-Defensive team, led the Blugolds and conference in rebounding and blocked shots this season. Averaging a double-double, she pulled down 11.3 rebounds per game and scored 13.6 points per game, a team-high and fourth best in the WIAC. Plendl was also third in the conference in field goal percentage with a mark of 55.4 percent (143-for-258).
Plendl also averaged 4.07 blocked shots per game, a team and league-best, along with the sixth-best mark in NCAA Division III. She finished with 114 blocked shots this season, a new school and conference record for most in a season. Plendl also set a school record for most blocked shots in a career with 259, which was the second all-time in the WIAC. Plendl was named a D3hoops.com Third-Team All-American this year.
Named Rookie of the Year was Courtney Lewis (Fr.-Prairie Du Chien, Wis.), who started 16 games while competing in 26 out of 28 contests. She was sixth on the team averaging 3.3 points and 19.2 minutes per game. She also had 2.8 rebounds per game, fifth best on the team, and scored 10 three-pointers, which was third best on the team.
Callie Halama (Sr.-Independence, Wis.) was presented with the team's most improved award. Halama was second on the team with 13.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Averaging 26.5 minutes per game, she started 25 contests while appearing in 27. Halama led the WIAC and was second in the nation in field goal percentage as she hit 60 percent of her shots (141-for-235). She was also 10th in the conference in free throw percentage, averaging 74.5 percent from the line (76-for-102).
Jess Freagon (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell), along with Halama, earned Blugold Awards. Freagon competed in 27 games, starting four, and averaged 9.6 minutes per game. She had 17 assists, nine blocks and seven steals, and averaged 1.4 points and two rebounds per game.
Receiving Captains Awards were Sarah Bingea (Jr.-Delano, Minn.), Freagon and Halama. Bingea started all 28 games this season and averaged 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, both of which were fourth best on the team. Bingea finished with 76 assists and 21 steals, both of which were second best for the Blugolds. Bingea also led the team and was ninth in the conference with a 76.2 free throw percentage (64-for-84).
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