May 10, 2007

Park Ridge, Ill. - Freshman right fielder Hope Howell (Livonia,Ga./George Walton Academy) and junior third baseman Shanna Diller (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community H.S.) represent Illinois on the All-Big Ten team announced today by the conference office. Howell, who led Illinois with a .421 batting average during conference games, was named to the second team while Diller, whose seven home runs are best on the team vs. Big Ten opponents, was named to the third team.

Howell has started all 54 games this season, 49 in right field where she has made some dramatic catches. At the plate the speedy Howell has a .435 on-base percentage, fifth best in a single season in Illinois history. In her last 11 conference games, Howell is batting .464 (13-for-28) with seven runs scored. She batted .571 with a double, triple and two RBI at the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational and .462 with two home runs and seven RBI at the Capital Classic.

Howell played key roles in the two of the biggest comeback victories of the season, singling to start a three-run rally in a 5-3, eight-inning victory over No. 8 Michigan on April 15, and going 3-for-4 in a 7-5 victory over Penn State on April 22.

Diller is one of the most accomplished hitters in Illinois history through three seasons. Her 16 home runs this season are tied with teammate Angelena Mexicano for the all-time Illini record and rank second all-time in Big Ten history for a season. That gives Diller 28 home runs for her career, five off the school record. On Illinois' all-time career list, Diller is also second in slugging percentage (.519), third in on-base percentage (.393), sixth in batting average (.301), and eighth in doubles (23).

Diller began the Big Ten with a six-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 12 of 15 conference games. She is batting .308 for the season and .360 with and an .820 slugging percentage in Big Ten games.

Illinois is 30-24 on the year heading into Friday's Big Ten Tournament game with Michigan. The Illini lead the nation in home runs per game (1.56) while ranking fifth nationally in slugging percentage (.528).