20 April 1999CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309.556.3206 or head coach Mia Smith, 309.556.3611
Seebruch Repeats as MVP for Lady Titan Basketball Team BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — For the second straight season, Sara Seebruch has been selected as the "Most Valuable Player" for the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team.
A 5-foot-11 forward from Tinley Park (Andrew HS), Seebruch led the Titans in scoring and rebounding with averages of 17.1 points and 8.8 rebounds. She also led IWU with an 84.8 percent free throw mark and set a school record with a 54.8 field goal percentage (170 of 310).
The Titans, playing for first-year head coach Mia Smith, finished 14-10 overall for their seventh consecutive winning season and were 7-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
A first team all-CCIW selection, Seebruch finished her career as IWU's fourth all-time leading scorer (1,288 points) and seventh top rebounder (611) and was fourth in field goals made (557) and eighth in free throws made (171). This season she scored in double figures in 22 games and led the team 10 times, including a career-high 39 against North Central.
Sophomore Melissa Glerum (Champaign, Centennial HS) set a new single-season school standard with 53 3-point field goals and also set a record with six 3-pointers in a win over Fontbonne. She currently ranks No. 4 in career 3-point field goals with 64.
IWU got another solid season from Maggie Lamb, a senior guard from Geneseo (J.D. Darnall HS), who was second on the team with a 14.8 scoring average and had a team-best 3.3 assists per game. She finished her career as IWU's eighth all-time leading scorer (1,013 points), fifth in assists (276), third in 3-point field goals (103), fourth in free throws (266) and 10th in field goals (322).
Lamb was named IWU's "Best Defensive Player" in 1998 and in 1996 and was elected second team all-CCIW in 1998 and 1999.
Smith awarded letters to 11 players, five of whom return for next season. The letterwinners are, with hometowns and high schools:
SENIORS - Jacqui Bliss (Towanda, Ridgeview HS); Maggie Lamb (Geneseo, J.D. Darnall HS); Amy Pollitz (Wheaton, North HS); Sara Seebruch (Tinley Park, Andrew HS); Mindy Stille (Ellsworth, Tri-Valley HS); Nisa Tripodi (Rockford, Boylan HS).
SOPHOMORES - Kristen Conley (Cerro Gordo HS); Melissa Glerum (Champaign, Centennial HS); Emily Hobbs (Marseilles, Seneca HS).
FRESHMEN - Brandi Rock (Roberts, Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS); Cindy Uphoff (El Paso HS).
1998-99 LADY TITAN BASKETBALL LETTERWINNERS (14-10 overall, 7-7 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) Jacqui Bliss, Towanda (Ridgeview HS) - Jacqui Bliss, a 5-foot-10 senior forward, earned her second basketball letter at IWU as she played in all 24 games and started 16…Averaged 7.2 points and was second on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game…Had single-game highs of 15 points (vs. Fontbonne), 14 rebounds (twice) and eight assists (vs. Elmhurst)…Finished her career No. 34 among all-time IWU women players in rebounds with 218…A health major, she is the daughter of Thurman and Peggy Bliss.
Kristen Conley, Cerro Gordo (HS) - Kristen Conley, a 5-foot-7 sophomore guard, earned her second basketball letter at IWU…This season she played in 24 games and started 21 and averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 rebounds…Had single-game highs of 22 points (vs. MacMurray) and seven rebounds and five assists (vs. Avila)…Among IWU career leaders she ranks 18th in free throws (90), seventh in 3-point field goals made (40)…Her 59 made free throws this season is 18th best in a season at IWU and her 28 3-point field goals is 13th best…A business/accounting major, she is the daughter of William and Carolyn Conley.
Melissa Glerum, Champaign (Centennial HS) - Melissa Glerum, a 5-foot-7 sophomore guard, earned her second basketball letter at IWU as she played in 24 games and started 23…Averaged 13.0 points and 3.4 rebounds…Had single-game highs of 26 points (vs. North Central), seven rebounds (vs. North Park), and seven assists (vs. MacMurray)…Led team in scoring six times and scored in double figures in 17 games…After two seasons, she ranks 19th in career field goals (168), 13th in free throws (107), and fourth in 3-point field goals (64)...Set a school record with 53 3-point field goals in a season and also with six in a game (vs. Fontbonne)…She is the daughter of Riley and Linda Glerum.
Emily Hobbs, Marseilles (Seneca HS) - Emily Hobbs, a 5-foot-5 sophomore guard, earned her first basketball letter at IWU…Played in 14 games, all in a reserve role…Averaged 1.1 points and 0.4 rebounds per game…Had single-game highs of four points (vs. MacMurray), two rebounds (vs. Eureka), and two assists (twice)…An English major, she is the daughter of Larry and Lynn Hobbs.
Maggie Lamb, Geneseo (J.D. Darnall HS) - Maggie Lamb, a 5-foot-4 senior guard, earned her fourth basketball letter as she played and started all 24 games…Named to second team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin…Averaged 14.8 points and 2.0 rebounds…Had single-game highs of 28 points (Augustana), five rebounds (twice), and nine assists (Fontbonne)...Finished her career ninth all-time leading scorer (1,013 points), third in 3-point field goals (103), fourth in free throws (266), fifth in assists (276), and 10th in field goals (322)…Her 44 3-point field goals this year is third best in a single season in school history…A biology major and academic all-district selection, she is the daughter of Charles and Beverly Lamb.
Amy Pollitz, Wheaton (North HS) - Amy Pollitz, a 5-foot-9 senior forward, earned her third basketball letter at IWU…Played in 23 games and started one for the 1998-99 team…Averaged 2.4 points per game with a single-game high of 13 points (North Park)…Averaged 2.9 rebounds per game and had a single-game high of seven rebounds (twice)…Also a three-time softball all-conference player…An elementary education major, she is the daughter of Steve and Barb Simon.
Sara Seebruch, Tinley Park (Andrew HS) - Sara Seebruch, a 5-foot-11 senior center, earned her fourth basketball letter at IWU...Named as team's "Most Valuable Player" for second straight season as she played and started in all 24 games and led the squad in scoring (17.6 average) and rebounding (8.9 per game)…Chosen to first team of all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squads after being on second team as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore…Had eight "double-double" performances in points and rebounds as she scored in double figures in 22 games and led team in scoring 10 times…Had double figures in rebounding eight times and led team 13 times…Had single-game highs of 39 points (vs. North Central), 16 rebounds (vs. Aurora), and five assists (three times)…Finished her career ranked No. 4 at IWU in scoring with 1,288 points and No. 4 in field goals (557)…She is also seventh all-time in rebounds (611) and eighth in free throws (171)…Set a single-season record with .548 free throw percentage and her 410 points is the fifth best in a single season at IWU…A math/secondary education major, she is the daughter of Dave and Judy Seebruch.
Brandi Rock, Roberts (Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS) - Brandi Rock, a 5-foot-6 freshman guard, earned her first basketball letter at IWU…Played in 20 games, all in a reserve role and scored 21 points…Averaged 1.0 point and 0.4 rebounds per game…Had single-game highs of six points (in season-opener vs. eventual national champion Washington U.), one rebound (seven times), and two assists (vs. Blackburn)…Undecided on her college major, she is the daughter of Tom and Jill Rock.
Mindy Stille, Ellsworth (Tri-Valley HS) - Mindy Stille, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, earned her fourth basketball letter at IWU...Played in 18 games and started two…Slowed early season by ankle injury…Averaged 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game...Had single-game highs of eight points and six rebounds (both vs. Carthage) and two assists (three times)…Ended her career sixth in IWU career 3-point field goals with 52…A business administration major, she is the daughter of Glenn and Sharon Stille.
Nisa Tripodi, Rockford (Boylan HS)- Nisa Tripodi, a 5-foot-6 senior guard, earned her first basketball letter at IWU...A valuable reserve guard, she played in all 24 games and averaged 1.9 points and .7 rebounds per game...Handed out 20 assists and made 12 steals…Had single-game highs of 11 points (vs. Eureka), three rebounds (vs. Wheaton), and four assists (vs. Aurora)…A psychology major, she is the daughter of Gary and Paula Tripodi.
Cindy Uphoff, El Paso (HS) - Cindy Uphoff, a 6-foot freshman center, earned her first basketball letter at IWU...Played in all 24 games and started one…Averaged 6.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game...Shot a team-best 58.8 percent from the field (57 of 97)…Had single-game highs of 17 points (vs. North Central), 13 rebounds (Carthage), and two assists (twice)…Led team in scoring once (vs. Millikin) and in rebounding in four games…An elementary education major, she is the daughter of Mike and Diana Uphoff.