March 16, 2004
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IOWA CITY – – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today that Iowa senior Jennie Lillis is one of two recipients of the WBCA Schlolarship Award. Harvard’s Hana Peljto was named the other scholarship award winner. Lillis will graduate in May with a degree in communication studies.
Lillis and Peljto will be formally presented their awards during the State Farm Wade Trophy and State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year Luncheon, presented by Jostens at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The awards luncheon is a part of the 2004 WBCA National Convention held in New Orleans, LA, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four.
Lillis becomes the sixth Iowa player to earn the WBCA scholarship; she joins Jolynn Schneider (1988), Tiffany Gooden (1998), Shannon Perry (1998), Cara Consuegra (2001) and Lindsey Meder (2002).
The award is presented annually to two women’s basketball players who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the sport of women’s basketball and to academic excellence. This award enables deserving student-athletes to complete their undergraduate degrees or begin work on advanced degrees.
“On behalf of the WBCA, I would like to congratulate Hana and Jennie on their commitment to academics,” said CEO Beth Bass. “They are very deserving of this award and the WBCA is proud to be able to assist in their educational endeavors.”
Lillis was recently named one of 10 semi-finalists for the second annual Creamland Diaries Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence. She was also selected to the all-Big Ten second team by both the media and coaches, marking the third time she has earned all-Big Ten accolades. The native of Urbandale, IA, is only the second Hawkeye player (Cindy Haugejorde) to amass 1,700 points and 800 rebounds. In addition, Lillis is one of only three Hawkeyes to score 300 points or more all four years (Haugejorde and Lindsey Meder). The three-time captain ranks fifth in Iowa career scoring (1,740) and rebounding (817), third in blocks (110), sixth in steals (187) and eighth in assists (295).
Lillis and her Iowa teammates will face Virginia Tech in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Sunday at 11 a.m. (CST). The game will be televised to a regional cable audience on ESPN2.