April 23, 2006

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Janelle Hughes was named the 2005-06 Illinois women's basketball Most Outstanding Player at the team's post-season banquet Sunday evening at Champaign Country Club. The team honored its 12 letterwinners and also handed out several other special awards at the event hosted by the Courtsiders Booster Club.

Hughes, a senior guard from Country Club Hills, Ill., took home the top honor after leading the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten status. She led the Illini in scoring a team-best 14 times and reached double-figures on 23 occasions. Hughes finished her career ranked ninth on both the single season (44) and career (78) three point field goal lists.

Freshman Lori Bjork was the winner of three awards. The Johnston, Iowa native was honored with the Ralf Woods Award for Free Throw Shooting Excellence after shooting .810 (64-79) from the line for the season and .829 (29-35) from the stripe in conference play. The Ralf Woods Award has been given at men's basketball banquets since the mid-1930s and at women's basketball banquets since 1980. Bjork also won the Blue Collar Award for hard work and the team's Academic Excellence Award.

For the second year in a row, the Most Improved Player Award went to junior Audrey Tabon. Tabon moved into a starting role this season and averaged 7.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game, up from 2.2 points and 3.9 boards per game in 14.2 minutes last season.

Senior Maggie Acuna was named the team's Best Defensive Player after leading the team with 68 steals. She ranked fifth in the Big Ten in steals and ended her career ranked 15th on the Illini career-steals list. She was also second on the team in defensive rebounds (123) and led the squad in assists (133) and minutes played (33.1 per game).

Sophomore Danyel Crutcher was the team's Best Attitude Award winner for the second year in a row, while this year's Scout Team Player of the Year was Ben Kantor.

2006 Illinois Women's Basketball Award Winners
Most Outstanding Player - Janelle Hughes
Best Defensive Player - Maggie Acuna
Blue Collar Award - Lori Bjork
Most Improved Player - Audrey Tabon
Best Attitude Award - Danyel Crutcher
Academic Excellence Award - Lori Bjork
Ralf Woods Free Throw Award - Lori Bjork
Scout Team Player of the Year - Ben Kantor