Women's Basketball

Three Redbirds Receive MVC Scholar-Athlete Recognition

[March 12, 2008]  NORMAL -- Three members of the Illinois State women's basketball team were named to the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. Junior guard Kristi Cirone was named to the first team, sophomore guard Maggie Krick was named to the second team, and sophomore forward Ashleen Bracey was an honorable mention selection. The three selections give Illinois State 19 since the inception of the program in 1993 and are the most the Redbirds have had in one season since 1997-98.

Cirone, a second-team selection as a sophomore, led the Valley in assists (5.6 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.31), while finishing second in scoring (16.3 ppg) and steals (2.6 spg). Earlier this season she became the 22nd player in ISU history to eclipse 1,000 career points and currently ranks eighth with 1,404 points. She was a three-time MVC Player of the Week and was named the MVC/Prairie Farms Scholar-Athlete of the Week three times this year. The Chicago native has a 3.45 cumulative grade-point average in exercise science.

Krick has started all 29 games this season and is second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg), field goals (147), 3-point field goals (46) and steals (31). In a win over South Florida in the Best Western Roundball Classic, Krick recorded career highs with 27 points, on 10-of-13 shooting, and eight assists. In the Redbirds' win at Missouri State, she netted 25 points and tied the Illinois State record with seven 3-point field goals. She has scored in double figures 16 times and led the Redbirds in scoring on eight different occasions. The Washington, Ill., native has a 3.80 grade-point average in business teacher education and has been on the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll every semester.

Bracey, a starter for the first time, led the Valley in field goal percentage (.571) and was third in rebounding (7.3 rpg), while leading the 'Birds in both categories. Bracey is also fourth on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg) and third in blocked shots (12). She scored a career-high 24 points against Drake and pulled down a career-best 15 rebounds at Northern Iowa this year. She recorded 15 double-doubles on the season and led the Redbirds in rebounding 19 times. Bracey was named the MVC Player of the Week on Dec. 12, the first of her career. The Oak Park native has a 3.16 grade-point average in criminal justice and has been on the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll every semester.

Cirone and Krick were both named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine All-Academic District V team earlier this season. Cirone was a second-team selection and Krick was named to the third team.

To be eligible for the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, student-athletes must be starters or important reserves, have played at least 75 percent of a team's games and must carry at least a 3.00 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale). Student-athletes must also have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution (true and redshirt freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at the institution. A total of 37 Valley student-athletes met the criteria for scholar-athlete honors in 2008.

The Redbirds (23-6, 13-5 MVC) are the No. 1 seed in the 2008 State Farm MVC Women's Basketball Tournament. ISU will play the winner of No. 8 Bradley versus No. 9 Southern Illinois in the quarterfinals on Friday at 12:05 p.m. at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.

[Text from file received from Jimmy Knodel, assistant media relations director, Illinois State University]