March 11, 2008

www.siusalukis.com

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Southern Illinois women's basketball team garnered three All-Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete honors the league announced Tuesday.

Erin Pauk, Erica Smith and Jayme Sweere all earned honorable mention honors.

Pauk, a three-time honoree in three years at SIU, earned a first-team nod in 2006 and second-team honors a year ago. The St. Charles, Mo. native already earned academic all-district honors this season. The senior has started all games for the Salukis and currently leads the league in 3-point percentage (43.8) and is the team leader in free throw percentage at 85.4 percent on the season, third all-time at SIU.

A native of Florissant, Mo., Smith is earning scholar-athlete honors for the second-straight year, a second-team member a year ago. The junior who has started all 28 games this season leads the team in rebounds (189), blocks (17) and steals (53), ranked in the top-10 in the MVC in rebounds (5th, 6.8 rpg), steals (3rd, 1.89 spg) and offensive rebounds (4th, 2.57 orpg).

Sweere, a senior from Springfield, Mo., earns honorable mention honors for the second consecutive season. She has started all 28 games for the Salukis this season and leads the team in rebounds (189, assists (88), blocks (17) and points (15.6 ppg). She is top five in the league in scoring (4th, 15.6 ppg), rebounding (5th, 6.8 rpg) and defensive boards (3rd, 4.96 drpg) and is currently ranked 12th all-time at SIU with 1,170 career points and 495 rebounds.

First Team
^Kristi Cirone, Illinois State, Junior, 3.45, Exercise Science
^Jill Martin, Drake, Senior, 3.35, Elementary Education
*^Rebekah Parker, Evansville, Senior, 3.69, Physical Education/Health
*^#Laura Rudolphi, Indiana State, Senior, 3.98, Business Insurance
*^#Lindsay Whorton, Drake, Senior, 4.00, English and Elementary Education

Second Team
*Sara Cain, Creighton, Senior, 3.71, Exercise Science/Pre-med
Maggie Krick, Illinois State, Sophomore, 3.80, Business Teacher Education
Kelsey Luna, Indiana State, Sophomore, 4.00, Psychology
Shannon Novosel, Evansville, Junior, 3.84, Mass Communications
*Ally Thrall, Creighton, Senior, 3.78, Public Relations/Advertising

*Repeat Second Team Selection

Honorable Mention
Tahnee Balerio, Missouri State, Senior, 3.77, Entertainment Management
Erin Pauk, Southern Illinois, Senior, 3.87, Psychology
*Jayme Sweere, Southern Illinois, Senior, 3.50, Radio/TV
Tiff Terwelp, Missouri State, Senior, 3.72, Early Childhood Education
Ashleen Bracey, Illinois State, Sophomore, 3.30, Criminal Justice Sciences
Kelly Krumwiede, Bradley, Junior, 3.78, Business Management and Administration
Ashley Austin, Evansville, Junior, 3.54, Biochemistry
Courtney Felke, Evansville, Senior, 3.33, Sport Studies (Communication)
Skye Johnson, Bradley, Sophomore, 3.32, Physical Therapy
Kyrie Kinder, Wichita State, Senior, 3.72, Elementary Education
Traci Ollendieck, UNI, Senior, 3.67, Business
Sam Schuett, Creighton, Sophomore, 3.70, Accounting
Erica Smith, Southern Illinois, Junior, 3.73, Business Management and Marketing
*Marcy Sudbeck, Wichita State, Junior, 3.95, Exercise Science
Jenny Van Kirk, Bradley, Sophomore, 4.00, Chemistry

*Repeat HM Selection