March 7, 2007

www.siusalukis.com

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Four Southern Illinois women's basketball players made the list of all-MVC women's basketball players for the 2006-07 season. The all-MVC team was announced Wednesday by the league office.

Carlai Moore headlines the first team in 2007, leading the Salukis to their first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title in 17 years. The Kansas City, Kan. native, named the 2006 league newcomer of the year, averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, leading the league with a 57.3 field goal percentage as a senior. Moore is the first Saluki since the 1998-99 season to represent Southern Illinois on the first team.

Junior Jayme Sweere was named second-team all-conference, as well as the all-defensive team. The guard from Springfield, Mo. averaged 11.3 points and 4.9 rebounds, leading the Salukis with 51 steals and 19 blocks.

Starting point guard Erica Smith garnered honorable mention team honors. The sophomore from Florissant, Mo. averaged 6.9 points, a team-high 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season.

The Salukis only freshman, Dana Olsen, earned all-freshmen team honors, averaging 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in her first collegiate season. The forward is an Overland Park, Kan. native.

Moore, Kristi Cirone of Illinois State and Tara King of Northern Iowa were all picked as preseason all-MVC and lived up to the ranking as all three were named to the first team. Joining them on the league's top team is Tahnee Balerio of Missouri State, Brandy Dahir of Drake and Rebekah Parker of Evansville. Moore and King were both second-team all-MVC last season, and this year, all six first team all-conference student-athletes are first-team picks for the first time.

The Missouri Valley Conference will announce its specialty awards at the pre-tournament luncheon set for noon on March 8 at the Sheraton West Des Moines. At that time, the Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Jackie Stiles Player of the Year and Rawlings Coach of the Year will be announced.

2007 All-Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Team

FIRST TEAM
Name, School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown
Tahnee Balerio, Missouri State 5-6 Jr. G Buhler, Kan.
Kristi Cirone, Illinois State 5-8 So. G Chicago, Ill.
Brandy Dahir, Drake 6-0 Jr. F Carrollton, Texas
Carlai Moore, Southern Illinois 6-1 Sr. F Kansas City, Kan.
Rebekah Parker, Evansville 5-10 Jr. G/F Silver Lake, Ind.
Tara King, Northern Iowa 6-0 Sr. F Ottumwa, Iowa

SECOND TEAM
Jessie Biggs, Northern Iowa 5-10 Sr. G Ottumwa, Iowa
Rachel Maenpaa, Indiana State 6-1 Sr. C Watertown, Wis.
Laura Rudolphi, Indiana State 6-2 Jr. C Carlyle, Ill.
Jayme Sweere, Southern Illinois 5-9 Jr. G Springfield, Mo.
Antionette Wells, Wichita State 6-4 Sr. C Kansas City, Mo.

HONORABLE MENTION
Courtney Felke, Evansville 5-8 Jr. G Rochester, Ind.
Nicolle Lewis, Illinois State 6-5 So. C Wind Lake, Wis.
Erika Nelson, Bradley 5-8 Sr. G Orland Park, Ill.
Erica Smith, Southern Illinois 5-7 So. G/F Florissant, Mo.
Ally Thrall, Creighton 5-6 Jr. G Des Moines, Iowa
Lindsay Whorton, Drake 6-0 Jr. G Independence, Mo.

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Monique' Jones, Drake 5-10 Fr. F Lee's Summit, Mo.
Kelsey Luna, Indiana State 5-5 Fr. G St. Louis, Mo.
Dana Olsen, Southern Illinois 6-1 Fr. F Overland Park, Kan.
Sam Schuett, Creighton 6-1 Fr. F Omaha, Neb.
Kenyatta Shelton, Illinois State 6-1 Fr. F Chicago, Ill.

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Kristi Cirone, Illinois State 5-8 So. G Chicago, Ill.
Megan Neuvirth, Creighton 5-11 Fr. F West Point, Neb.
Rebekah Parker, Evansville 5-10 Jr. G/F Silver Lake, Ind.
Jayme Sweere, Southern Illinois 5-9 Jr. G Springfield, Mo.
Antionette Wells, Wichita State 6-4 Sr. C Kansas City, Mo.