| Seniors Charity Renfro (pictured) and Amanda Brown were honored at the Annual Lady Lion Basketball Banquet Sunday at the Nittany Lion Inn. |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 22, 2007 ?? The Penn State women's basketball team held its annual postseason banquet today at the Nittany Lion Inn and honored both players and supporters of the program for their dedication and commitment during the season.
Amanda Brown (Kennett Square, Pa.), who could not be in attendance because she is at training camp for the WNBA??s Los Angeles Sparks, took home the most hardware with three accolades. The senior post player received the Joanie O??Brien Award for the Lady Lions?? Most Outstanding Player, the Academic Achievement Award and the Nittany Lion Club Award, which is given to the senior Lady Lion with the highest grade point average. Junior guard Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) claimed the Jeanette Goss Courage Award, while sophomore guard Mashea Williams (Erie, Pa.) received the Tom Caldwell ??Unsung Hero?? Award. Freshman guard Meggan Quinn (Red Lion, Pa.) garnered the Robin Lombard Award in of those qualities that exemplify the true spirit of Lady Lion basketball. Assistant Athletics Director Jenn James was recognized for her outstanding service to Lady Lion basketball. The Kent Petersen Student Fan of the Year Award was presented to ??The Other Lady Lions?? (TOLL). Kay Benton and Sallie Treese of Altoona shared the Ruth Ingram Award in recognition of a Lady Lion Basketball fan for outstanding enthusiasm and support.
Brown was an All-Big Ten first team selection for the first time and a 2007 Kodak/Women??s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Region 6 Team choice in her final season in the Blue and White. The senior post player broke the Penn State single-season rebounding record with 317 caroms on the season. She is also the first Lady Lion to win the Big Ten rebounding crown (10.2 rpg) in play since Penn State joined the league in 1992-93. Brown was second on the team in scoring this season with a 14.2 per game effort, which was eighth in the Big Ten. She was also third in the league in field goal percentage (.593) and fifth in blocked shots (1.55). Brown, who was a finalist for the Lowe??s Senior CLASS Award, etched her name into the Penn State record books as she broke the career field goal percentage record (.589) previously held by Angie Potthoff (.574) and became just the second player in school history to have 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 150 blocks, joining Andrea Garner.
Gissendanner took home All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades from both the coaches and the media for the second-straight year. The junior guard came on strong in conference play as she averaged 15.2 points per game, which was second on the team and tied for fifth in the Big Ten. Overall, Gissendanner accounted for 12.8 points per game and owned a team-best 84.0% mark from the free throw line, placing her fourth among Big Ten leaders.
Williams, who had off-season knee surgery prior to the 2006-07 campaign, was a steady influence for the Lady Lions as she provided stifling defense and solid offensive efforts. The sophomore guard, who started 12 games, was third on the team in steals (33) and assists (52). Additionally, Williams contributed 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Quinn is Blue and White through-and-through and showed it in her first season as a Lady Lion. This freshman guard could usually be seen cheering her teammates on from the sidelines, even after suffering a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 9. When Mashea Williams went down with an injury, Quinn helped spark Penn State to a 69-58 win over #23/21 Michigan State with four points and then accounted for four points and four assists in a comeback win over Iowa three days later.
James was honored with the Hank Gambocurta Award recognizing outstanding service to the Lady Lions. James is the administrator for the Lady Lions and was the manager for the team from 1987-92.
2006-07 Lady Lion Basketball Award Winners
The Robin Lombard Award ?C Meggan Quinn
The Academic Achievement Award ?C Amanda Brown
The Jeanette Goss Courage Award ?C Kam Gissendanner
The Joanie O??Brien Award ?C Amanda Brown
The Tom Caldwell Unsung Hero Award ?C Mashea Williams
Nittany Lion Club Award ?C Amanda Brown
The Hank Gambocurta Award ?C Jennifer James
The Kent Petersen Student Fan of the Year Award ?C The Other Lady Lions (TOLL)
The Ruth Ingram Award ?C Kay Benton and Sallie Treese