Story courtesy UND Media Relations
March 1, 2001
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- University of North Dakota women’s basketball forward Theresa LeCuyer (Sr., Anoka, Minn.), a 1997 graduate of Anoka (Minn.) High School, was named the 2000-2001 North Central Conference’s most valuable player, the NCC office announced today.
LeCuyer, one of four UND players selected to the 16-player all-conference team, was second in the league in scoring this season with a 17.2 scoring average in 18 games. LeCuyer tied for fourth in steals (2.22 per game), was fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.393), 10th in free throw percentage (.767) and 14th in rebounding (6.5 per game). It was the second year in a row that LeCuyer has been named All-NCC.
A UND women’s player has now won the NCC league MVP in three of the past four years. Former Sioux center and current assistant coach Jenny Crouse was league MVP in both 1997-98 and 1998-99.
UND guard Tonia Jones (Sr., Thompson, N.D.) was All-NCC and was also named the NCC’s defensive player of the year after leading the league in steals (2.94 per game) and assist to turnover ratio (2.03). It is only the second time a Sioux player has received NCC defensive player of the year honors since the award was instituted in 1991. UND’s Shea Smirl won league defensive honors in 1993-94.
UND head coach Gene Roebuck was selected coach of the year, the sixth time he has received the honor, after leading the Sioux to the NCC championship with a 15-3 record and 23-3 mark overall. Roebuck has compiled a 356-60 (.856) record in 14 seasons at UND and has a 443-74 (.857) record in 17 years as a collegiate coach.
Also receiving All-NCC honors were UND forward/center Jenny Boll (So., Crookston, Minn.) and forward Mandy Arndtson (Sr., Austin, Minn.). Arndtson finished among the league leaders in numerous categories. She was third in 3-point field goal percentage (.419), ninth in 3-pointers made (1.44 per game), 12th in scoring (12.8 ppg), tied for 12th in rebounding (6.6), 14th in field goal percentage (.460), 14th in free throw percentage (.739), tied for 14th in steals (1.5 per game).
Boll finished fourth in NCC field goal percentage (.529), sixth in NCC rebounding (7.5 per game) and 12th in scoring (12.8 per game). On Jan. 8, Boll was named NCC co-player of the week after grabbing a career-high 19 rebounds and scoring 16 points in a 70-61 win at North Dakota State on Jan. 6. Boll’s rebounding effort that night tied her for the third-best single-game rebounding mark in UND women’s basketball history.
The All-NCC honors were the first for Arndtson, Boll and Jones. This year marks the third time that UND has had four all-conference selections in one year. Four players were named in 1998-99 (Jenny Crouse, Jaime Pudenz, Katie Richards, Kami Winger) and in 1990-91 (Whitney Meier, Jenny Walter, Nadine VanDekerckhove, Beth Ihry).
The 2000-2001 All-North Central Conference Women’s Basketball Team
Mandy Arndtson, North Dakota, F, Sr., Austin, Minn.
Jaime Berry*, North Dakota State, C, Sr., Watertown, S.D.
Jenny Boll, North Dakota, F/C, So., Crookston, Minn.
Missy Borell Northern Colorado, C, So., Mahtomedi, Minn.
Sherri Brende**, South Dakota State, G, Sr., Baltic, S.D.
Kelly Gese*, South Dakota, G, Jr., Shoreview, Minn.
Amanda Gehrke, North Dakota State, F, Jr., Cass Lake, Minn.
Brittani Janssen**, Augustana, C, Sr., DeSmet, S.D.
Tonia Jones, North Dakota, G, Sr., Thompson, N.D.
Theresa LeCuyer*, North Dakota, F/C, Sr., Anoka, Minn.
Trish Martin*, Morningside, F, Sr., South Sioux City, Neb.
Jennifer Mitchell, Nebraska-Omaha, G, Jr., Mankato, Minn.
Kris Neuberger, MSU, Mankato, F, Sr., Garner, Iowa
Tamera Oltmanns, Augustana, G, Jr., Lennox, S.D.
Tina Schreiner, St. Cloud State, G, Jr., Cold Spring, Minn.
Christine Williamson**, St. Cloud State, P, Sr., Apple Valley, Minn.
* Two-time selection **Three-time selection
Coach of the Year: Gene Roebuck, North Dakota
Most Valuable Player: Theresa LeCuyer, North Dakota
Defensive Player of the Year: Tonia Jones, North Dakota
Freshman of the Year: Brenda Davis, South Dakota State, and Andrea Shogren, St. Cloud State
Class Breakdown: Seniors (9), Juniors (5), Sophomores (2).
Team Breakdown: Augustana (2), MSU, Mankato (1), Morningside (1), Nebraska-Omaha (1), North Dakota (4), North Dakota State (2), Northern Colorado (1), St. Cloud State (2), South Dakota (1), South Dakota State (1).
Honorable Mention: Augustana: Nicole Tendler; Morningside: Danika Okerstrom, Erica Thein; MSU, Mankato: Jenny Groom; Nebraska-Omaha: Tanya Hammes; North Dakota State: Jayne Boeddeker; St. Cloud State: Nicole Persby; South Dakota: Julia Frie, Kelly Koepp; South Dakota State: Angie Loken, Melissa Pater.