Women’s Basketball Holds Annual Awards Banquet

April 24, 2006

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s basketball team held is annual year-end awards banquet on Sunday evening at the university’s Madren Conference Center. The coaching staff presented awards to players for top performances as well as to staff members for their contributions to the program.

Senior Amanda Frist earned four awards, including the team’s Most Valuable Player honor, to lead the team. She also received the Best Field Goal Percentage honor, the Academic Achievement Award and the Air Force ROTC Award. Fellow senior Julie Talley collected three honors, while sophomore Tasha Taylor rounded out the multiple winners with two as she earned the Best Defensive Player Award and the Playmaker Award. The Wachovia Most Improved Award was presented to Moreemi Davis, while Susan Yenser received the Newcomer of the Year Award.

Frist, Talley and Lauren Allen were also presented with four-year letterwinner awards.

Best Field Goal Percentage – Ken & Ester Reuis WagnerAmanda Frist – was 121-215 from the field for a 56.3%

Best Free Throw Percentage Award – Bob and Lana ToddJulie Talley – shot 76.1% from the foul line, converting 35 of 46 attempts

Leading Rebounder Award – Mr. Ralph NixMaxienne White – led the team in both offensive and defensive rebounds with 63 offensive and 129 defensive for 192 total rebounds – averaged 6.6 rebounds per game – rebounding average ranked 11th in the ACC

Best Defensive Player Award – Ret. Lt. Col. & Mrs. Don R. CastleTasha Taylor – led the team with 53 steals – ranked second on the squad with 20 blocked shots – had 109 rebounds, third-best on the team

Playmaker Award – Mr. Wofford PowellTasha Taylor – only Lady Tiger to record triple digits in assists with 162 – assist per game ratio of 5.59 ranked third in the ACC – possessed a team-best 1.3 turnover-to-assist ratio, which was also listed 10th in the ACC

Gene Beard Hustle Award – Mr. & Mrs. Gene BeardJulie Talley – career three-point shooting statistics ranked fourth in three lists in school history, 152 three-point field goals made, 402 attempts and a 1.37 three-pointers per game average – also listed fifth in the Clemson record books with a 37.8% three-point shooting percentage

Newcomer of the Year Award – Mr. Charlie SmithSusan Yenser – played in all but one game for the 2005-06 season and started four – ranked fifth on the team in minutes played – also had the fifth-best field goal percentage and ranked third for three-point shooting

Bill Nix Coaches’ Award – Cheryl Hanna & Karen NixChristy Brown – red-shirted 2005-06 season while recovering from ACL surgery – encouraged teammates from the bench as well as in practice

Most Improved Award – Wachovia Bank of South CarolinaMoreemi Davis – sophomore who red-shirted the 2005-06 season to improve her conditioning and skill level – put forth great effort in practice despite the fact that she was not participating on the court in games

Most Valuable Player Award – Dr. & Mrs. Robert C. EdwardsAmanda Frist – as a four-year starter, played her way into four top-10 lists for career statistics – nearly doubled her blocked shot totals from the each of the previous three years with 47 this season – led team in field goal percentage and blocked shots – ranked second on the team in rebounding and scoring

Academic Achievement Award – The Garrison FamilyAmanda Frist – has earned a cumulative GPA over 3.90 – was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection – received the 2006 Athletic Director’s Academic Excellence Award

Strength and Conditioning Award – National Strength and Conditioning AssociationJulie Talley – posted weight room numbers of 175-pound bench press, 175-pound hang clean, 180-pound squat, 23-inch vertical jump and 16 chin-ups

Air Force ROTC Award – Clemson Air Force ROTC (presented to the player who best demonstrates strong leadership, high integrity, service to the community and determination in all endeavors)Amanda Frist

Spirit of the Tiger Award – Larry DiBiase and Family (presented to someone affiliated with Lady Tiger Basketball who is an inspiration to the team and has made a commitment and concerted effort to contribute to the success of the program)Mack and Susie McDaris