April 19, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK- In front of a crowd that included Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska guard Kari Reabold took home Most Valuable Player honors from the team's end-of-year banquet held at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge on Saturday. Reabold, who first took the court for Alaska in an 84-49 win over Rocky Mountain on Nov. 12, 2004, finishes her career with 1,143 points scored and 627 rebounds: good for 11th place and sixth place on the school's all-time records list, respectively.
Serving as a co-captain for the Nanooks this season, Reabold scored in double-figures in 22 of her 26 games, and tied for the team-lead in assists as well with 73. Among the GNAC leaders in both scoring and rebounding, she recorded three double-doubles this season, giving her eight for her 106-game Alaska career. She finished third in the conference with a team-best 65 steals, and was second on the team in blocked shots as well.
Forwards Joscelyn Shumate and Sarah Herrin shared the team's Best Defender Award. Co-captain Shumate has been a mainstay in the Alaska frontcourt for the past four seasons. She recorded over half of her 63 career blocks this year for the Nanooks, stuffing 38 shots in the 2007-08 season. This January, she also tied a 15-year old school record by blocking six shots in a single game: a feat she accomplished twice in back-to-back games against Western Oregon and Saint Martin's.
Herrin, meanwhile, brought toughness and intensity to the Nanook defense, earning her a starting spot in all but one of the team's 26 games. Finishing third on the team in rebounds by pulling down 119 boards for the season, including a career-high 10-rebound effort in the team's win over Mesa State, she played significantly bigger than her listed 5'6" frame, and became an integral part of the Nanook frontcourt.
Freshman point guard Caitlin Hamsley was named the team's Most Improved Player, giving the Nanooks valuable depth from the point guard position. Appearing in 17 games for Alaska this season, Hamsley saw her minutes on the court significantly increase as the season went on. Tellingly, she produced some of her best performances against the conference's best teams, scoring a season-high eight points off the bench against rivals Alaska Anchorage and seven points against Seattle Pacific.
Sophomore Jessie Craig and freshman Grace Milliken rounded out the awards, with the duo sharing the Most Inspirational Player honor. This award, which honors players who stand out as the most unselfish and supportive of their teammates, was given to Craig and Milliken for their positive attitude, strong work ethic, and consistent support of their teammates.
