ROSEMONT – Fighting Illini senior forward Alex Wittinger was honored by the Big Ten Conference on Monday as she was named to the 2018-19 Preseason All-Big Ten Team as chosen by both the league's coaches and media.
Wittinger led Illinois in several statistical categories last season, including scoring (15.0 ppg.), rebounding (9.0 rpg.), blocked shots (75) and field goal percentage (48.8). She ranked among the top five in the Big Ten for her total rebounding, offensive rebounding and blocked shots numbers.
Wittinger tallied 125 offensive rebounds last year to match Illinois' single-season record, and also became just the second Illini to record a triple-double in school history. Wittinger is one of Illinois' 29 1,000-point scorers with 1,162 total points, and she enters her senior season at No. 3 on Illinois' all-time blocked shots list. She has racked up 199 rejections in her three seasons in the Orange and Blue. Wittinger is a three-time All-Big Ten honoree as she earned second-team honors in 2018 and was an honorable mention in 2017. She was named to the 2016 All-Big Ten Freshman Team as well.
Wittinger and the Illini open the 2018-19 campaign on November 7 at 11 a.m. Illinois will welcome Alabama A&M for an 11 a.m. matchup, also marking field trip day.
2018-19 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM*
Alex Wittinger, Sr., F, Illinois
Kathleen Doyle, Jr., G, Iowa
MEGAN GUSTAFSON, Sr., F, Iowa
KAILA CHARLES, Jr., G, Maryland
HALLIE THOME, Sr., C, Michigan
Shay Colley, Jr., G, Michigan State
KENISHA BELL, Sr., G, Minnesota
Hannah Whitish, Jr., G, Nebraska
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Sr., F, Northwestern
Teniya Page, Sr., G, Penn State
Ae'Rianna Harris, Jr., F, Purdue
Dominique Oden, Jr., G, Purdue
2018-19 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Megan Gustafson, Sr., F, Iowa
2018-19 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM*
Alex Wittinger, Sr., F, Illinois
Kathleen Doyle, Jr., G, Iowa
MEGAN GUSTAFSON, Sr., F, Iowa
KAILA CHARLES, Jr., G, Maryland
Hallie Thome, Sr., C, Michigan
Kenisha Bell, Sr., G, Minnesota
Destiny Pitts, So., G/F, Minnesota
Hannah Whitish, Jr., G, Nebraska
Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Sr., F, Northwestern
Teniya Page, Sr., G, Penn State
Ae'Rianna Harris, Jr., F, Purdue
Dominique Oden, Jr., G, Purdue
2018-19 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Megan Gustafson, Sr., F, Iowa
