Engelman Takes Home Ms. Jayhawk Award At Women's Basketball Team Reception
April 22, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The University of Kansas women’s basketball team held its’ postseason awards reception and senior celebration Thursday night in the Kansas Union Ballroom, with freshman guard Monica Engelman nabbing the prestigious Ms. Jayhawk Award.
Kansas head coach Bonnie Henrickson addressed the crowd before the awards were handed out and expressed that even though the season may not have played out how many had predicted, it was a positive experience for the team.
“We certainly faced more than our fair share of adversity this year,” said Henrickson. “They say that 10% of who you are is what happens to you and 90% is what you do about it. I could not be more proud of these young women and how they responded to the trials and tribulations they faced this season.”
Engelman received the Ms. Jayhawk Award given to the player who embodies the spirit and vision of the Kansas women’s basketball program. It marked the first time a freshman has won the award. Engelman, a San Antonio, Texas, native finished the season averaging 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. She started the final 13 games of the season replacing the injured Danielle McCray in the Kansas line-up.
Other awards announced during the banquet included McCray earning the Lew Perkins Leadership Award for the first time in her career. McCray, who was recently taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft, completed her Kansas career ranked fourth on the all-time scoring chart with 1,934 points. Despite her Jayhawk career being cut short with a knee injury, McCray also finished her KU career ranked in the top 10 in nine other statistical categories.
“This has been an amazing journey for me,” said McCray. “I would not trade my four years at Kansas for anything. Even though I didn’t get to finish my senior season, I have made memories to last a lifetime and will always be a Jayhawk first.”
Freshman forward Carolyn Davis was named Most Improved. Davis concluded the season averaging 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. She upped her averages to 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game after entering the starting line-up in mid-January Davis connected on 104-of-146 shots from the field, good for 71.9 percent, which set a new KU single-season record for field goal percentage and led the Big 12 Conference.
Senior guard Sade Morris was given the Best Defender Award for the second-consecutive season. Morris was often assigned to guard the opposing team’s best offensive threat and led KU with 42 steals.
Freshman forward Tania Jackson was honored with the Academic Pride Award. Jackson was one of five KU players to earn a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
In addition to Jackson, senior Kelly Kohn, McCray, redshirt freshman Angel Goodrich and senior Porscha Weddington were honored for being named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll this season. It was also announced that Kohn, McCray and Weddington, were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, while Goodrich earned a spot on the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team.
McCray was presented with her All-Big 12 Second Team honor, while Davis received her All-Big 12 Freshman Team plaque.
Kansas Athletics Chief of Staff Nicole Corcoran received the Most Outstanding Person Award. In addition to overseeing Events/Game-day Experience and game management that promotes a positive game-day fan experience for all sports, Corcoran has dedicated her service as a member of the Hoops to Heels program – specifically working with individual players in public speaking and brand presentation.
Following the awards portion of the evening, the five-member senior class of LaChelda Jacobs, Kohn, McCray, Morris and Weddington each gave a short speech commemorating their Jayhawk careers.
Thursday Night’s Award Winners
Jayhawks Most Outstanding Person Award- Nicole Corcoran
Athletic Director’s Honor Roll- Tania Jackson, Angel Goodrich, Kelly Kohn, Danielle McCray, Porscha Weddington
Big 12 Academic Award- Kelly Kohn, Danielle McCray, Porscha Weddington—First Team; Angel Goodrich—Second Team
Big 12 Athletic Honor- Danielle McCray (Second Team), Carolyn Davis (Freshman Team)
Academic Pride Award- Tania Jackson
Best Defender- Sade Morris
Most Improved- Carolyn Davis
Lew Perkins Leadership Award- Danielle McCray
Ms. Jayhawk Award- Monica Engelman
