The unknown future of the Oregon women’s basketball program didn’t prevent the team from celebrating a relatively successful — albeit tumultuous — 2000-01 season.
Before an estimated crowd of 500, the team held its annual awards banquet Saturday night at the Eugene Hilton, with little mention of the ongoing investigation into the program and head coach Jody Runge’s coaching methods.
Leading the team with 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, senior forward Angelina Wolvert was named the MVP. The 6-foot-3 Wolvert was drafted Friday by the Cleveland Rockers of the WNBA in the third round. As the 20th overall pick by the Portland Fire, senior center Jenny Mowe was the first Oregon player ever drafted into the WNBA. Wolvert and Mowe were the first two Pacific-10 Conference players drafted.
Sophomore point guard Alissa Edwards was named Oregon’s Most Improved Player and Best Defensive Player. Edwards played just 34 minutes the entire 1999-2000 season, but emerged as perhaps the most critical player during the Ducks’ stretch run to the NCAA Tournament this season. She was third on the team in assists (62) and steals (32).
Senior Camber Ellingson was honored with the Bev Smith Most Inspirational award, while freshman Cathrine Kraayeveld was the team’s Most Valuable Newcomer.
The Ducks finished the season with a 17-12 overall record and 10-8 record in the Pac-10. As a 13th seed, Oregon lost to Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament; it was the team’s eighth straight trip to the Big Dance.
The team was wrought with turmoil after eight unidentified players met March 4 with Athletic Director Bill Moos, criticizing Runge’s coaching methods and reportedly requesting that she be fired.
Moos hired the services of Bond, Schoeneck & King, a law firm with a national reputation for evaluating collegiate sports programs, which is preparing a report.
No deadline has been set for the firm’s findings.