Bowling Green State University Athletics
Stefanie Wenzel Named Women's Basketball P-O-Y
April 21, 2002 | Women's Basketball
April 21, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Sophomore Stefanie Wenzel was named the Bowling Green State University women's basketball Player of the Year for the 2001-02 season. The team was honored at the annual Women's Basketball Banquet, held at the new Bowen-Thompson Student Union on the BGSU campus Saturday evening (April 20).
Wenzel, who earned the award in a vote of team members, led the Falcons in scoring with 11.6 points per game, and was second on the team with a total of 36 three-point field goals made.
Wenzel, who averaged 2.3 ppg as a freshman, was the most improved player in the Mid-American Conference, in terms of point production. The Sussex, Wis., native scored a total of 325 points in 2001-02 after totalling 36 points in her first year on campus.
Dana Western, the team's lone senior, earned the Falcon Award, presented to the player who exemplifies commitment, dedication and loyalty to the women's basketball program. Western averaged 6.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and led the team with 23 blocked shots. She was one of just two Falcons to start all 28 contests.
The other Falcon to start every game, junior Kim Griech, was named the Impact Player of the Year. Griech earned the award, presented to the player who made significant contributions throughout the season, after averaging 10.4 points per game, good for second on the team. She led the Falcons with 43 three-point field goals made, and was secon don the team in both assists and steals.
Sophomore Lindsay Austin was named the team's Playmaker of the Year after leading the Falcons and ranking among the conference leaders in assists and assist/turnover ratio. Austin also led the Brown and Orange in steals and minutes per game, and ranked third on the team in both scoring and rebounding.
Redshirt sophomore Pam Brown was named the Power Player of the Year, given to the top post player. Despite missing 10 games due to injury, Brown averaged 7.3 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds.
Freshman Tene Lewis was named the Most Improved Player of the Year. Lewis played in 24 games, making three starts, and was one of the team's top defenders. Junior Megan Jerome earned the Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year award. Through two-and-a-half years at BGSU (entering the spring semester), Jerome maintains a perfect 4.00 grade point average as a business administration major with a concentration in finance.
Larry Weiss was named the Women's Basketball Booster of the Year, and Lewis and fellow freshman Sakima Smith were presented with their BGSU letter jackets after earning their first letters in 2001-02.
Western, as mentioned the team's lone senior on the active roster, was honored for her contributions to the Falcon program over the last four years. The Whitestown, Ind., native posted a double-double in her final game in Anderson Arena, a 78-62 win over Eastern Michigan on "Senior Day" (Feb. 23).
The Falcons of first-year head coach Curt Miller and assistants Jennifer Roos and Brandi Poole finished with an overall record of 9-19, and BGSU posted a MAC record of 6-10. Western was the lone senior on the 13-member squad. Miller will add four freshman for 2002-03, along with Giani Bowles, a transfer from St. John's University, and Francine Miller. The latter Miller's appeal for a medical redshirt was approved earlier in the week, giving her an additional year of eligibility.
BGSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS:
(sponsored by Dan & June Long/Long's Cleaners)
(sponsored by Joan Slebos)
(sponsored by George & Susan Lang)
(sponsored by Ron Thompson)
(sponsored by Bill & Helen Lloyd)
(sponsored by Phipps, Levin & Knowles)
(sponsored by Steve & Rhonda Melchi)
