Hannibal-LaGrange College Earns Automatic Bid to 
NAIA National Tournament

Columbia, Mo. – The Hannibal-LaGrange College women's basketball team secured its spot in the NAIA Division I Women’s National Tournament bracket, defeating William Woods University in the championship game of the American Midwest Conference postseason tournament last night by a final score of 94-73. Hannibal-LaGrange led the visitors from William Woods by a score of 51-19 at the half, but the Owls rallied in the second half of action, cutting Hannibal’s lead to 11 points. However, a late-game run by Hannibal-LaGrange allowed the top-seeded Trojans to pull away from William Woods, giving them the 21-point victory. The Trojans will compete in the NAIA's 32-team national tournament on March 14-20 at the Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn.

In addition, in a vote by league coaches, Delena White, a 5-10 forward for the Hannibal-LaGrange College Trojans, is the 2000-01 AMC Most Valuable Player. White, who hails from Shelbyville, Ind., averaged 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per outing during the regular season. She shot 42 percent from the field, connecting on 154 of her 372 shot attempts.

The AMC Freshman of the Year is Misty Evans from Hannibal-LaGrange. The 5-8 guard from Houston, Mo. averaged 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in her rookie campaign as a Trojan. Evans played in 31 games, helping her team to a 26-6 record and the AMC regular season title.

The AMC Newcomer of the Year honor is bestowed upon the top transfer student in the AMC. Maija Jackson, a 6-0 senior forward for Hannibal-LaGrange, is the 2000-01 recipient of this award for women's basketball. Jackson, who hails from New London, Mo., was the second leading scorer and rebounder for the Trojans, netting 14.5 points and snagging 5.7 rebounds per game. 

The AMC Coach of the Year is Jennifer Durst from Hannibal-LaGrange College. In her first season at the helm of the Trojan program, Durst led her team to an overall record of 26-6. The Trojans totaled the best record in league play with an 8-2 mark, taking home the 2000-01 regular season title.

A complete list of the 10-member AMC All-Conference team, the Honorable Mention squad and the Academic All-Conference team, is included below. Members of the Academic All-Conference team have earned at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Maija Jackson (SR), Hannibal-LaGrange College
Forward from New London, Mo.

Misty Evans, Hannibal-LaGrange College
Guard from Houston, Mo.

Jennifer Durst (1^st Year), Hannibal-LaGrange
26-6, 8-2 (Regular Season)

Player

School

Position

YR

Hometown

Delena White

Hannibal-LaGrange College

Forward

SO

Shelbyville, IN

Maija Jackson

Hannibal-LaGrange College

Forward

SR

New London, MO

Ebony Dampier

Harris-Stowe State College

Guard

SR

St. Louis, MO

Nicole Markus

McKendree College

Guard

SR

Aviston, IL

Amy May

McKendree College

Forward

SR

St. Charles, MO

Georgia Desmond

Missouri Baptist College

Guard

SR

Manchester, MO

Stephanie Sebacher

William Woods University

Forward

SR

Jonesburg, MO

Laura Borghardt

William Woods University

Forward

SR

Jefferson City, MO

Janette Kauffman

William Woods University

Forward

SO

Jefferson City, MO

Brooke Benson

Williams Baptist College

Forward

JR

Imboden, AR

Katy Foster

Hannibal-LaGrange College

Misty Evans

Hannibal-LaGrange College

Autumn Dow

McKendree College

Kristin Hustedde

McKendree College

Christina Johnson

Missouri Baptist College

Amy Dixon

Williams Baptist College

Kelly Matchett

Williams Baptist College

Autum Primm

Williams Baptist College

Hannibal-LaGrange College
Misty Evans, Katy Foster, Hilde Zwaig Kolstad, Ashley Spratt, Karalee Stull, Delena White

Harris-Stowe State College
Laquinnya Henderson

McKendree College
Amy Anderson, Michelle Beiermann, Becky Bisso, Angela Durham, Jackie Harlin, Nicole Hartrich, Kristin Hustedde, Darci Louden, Nicole Markus, Meghan Martz, Amy May, Kelly Jo Nettleton, Sarah Niebrugge, Nicole Pellman, Karyle Penelton, Jackie Shubert, Jennifer Stearns

Missouri Baptist College
Jennifer Bixler, Elizabeth Cantrell, Barbara Flannery, Eva Gassenberger, Jennifer McMillion, Jennifer Prewitt

William Woods University
Laura Borghardt, Meghan Fowler, Kristen Franke, Evelyn Harris, Janette Kauffman, Amy O’Brien, Stephanie Sebacher

Williams Baptist College
Corrie Browning, Tara Dixon, Kelly Hodges, Charlotte LaFevers,  Sara Long, Stephanie Long, Autum Primm