April 18, 2007
ATLANTA – Senior Kentrina Wilson, who overcame two serious knee injuries during her career at Tech, was recognized by the women’s basketball program with the Kentrina Wilson Perseverance and Courage Award on Wednesday evening at the team’s annual banquet. The award was created to honor her courage during a time of adversity and perseverance through hardship.
Wilson was also honored with the Alex Stewart Loyalty Award as the team came together to celebrate the season to remember. The Loyalty award is given to the player that is most loyal to her teammates and coaching staff both on and off the court. This person is also very coachable and is an extension of the coaching staff in every situation.
The Jackets enjoyed tremendous success this season, finishing the year with a 21-12 record, the best in school history, and the program’s first NCAA Tournament win, a 55-54 thriller over DePaul.
This season the Jackets earned their first winning record in Atlantic Coast Conference play, including wins over defending national champions and fourth-ranked Maryland and NC State. Tech’s 9-5 ACC record is seven wins better than last season and is the second-best turnaround in conference history.
Other multiple award winners included senior Stephanie Higgs, junior Janie Mitchell and sophomore Jacqua Williams.
Higgs, a guard from Lawrenceville, Ga., was named the women’s basketball Offensive Player of the Year and the team assist leader. Higgs led the team in scoring with 15.4 points a game and totaled 87 assists for the season. She also averaged 4.6 rebounds a game for Tech.
Mitchell and Williams were named Co-Most Improved Players. Williams, who also earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award, set the school-record in steals for both men and women with 95. She also grabbed 3.8 rebounds to go along with averaging 7.7 points a game. Mitchell also received the team’s Rebound Award after leading the team in boards, averaging 6.9 a game. She was also second on the squad in points scored with 14.5.
Also honored at this year’s banquet were junior Jill Ingram, who received the Academic Excellence Award, and junior Chioma Nnamaka, who was honored with the Coach MaChelle Joseph Hard Work Award for her commendable work and willingness to go the extra mile to achieve team goals.
Senior Women Administrator Theresa Wenzel was also recognized by the women’s basketball team for all her work that has gone above and beyond the call of duty this season. Wenzel has put in countless hours to help the program achieve the success it did this season.
