Press Release

MARCH 16, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: RUDY YOVICH-SID
260-481-6646

Gearlds Named Co-Player of the Year

Edinburg, TX-IPFW senior forward Amy Gearlds has been selected by the Division I Independent women’s basketball coaches as Co-Player of the Year.

The Beech Grove, Indiana native, who was a first-team selection in 2001-02, and a second-team selection in 2002-03, was selected along with sophomore forward Terra Andrews of Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Gearlds started all 28 games for the Mastodons. She averaged 17.6 ppg (58th in the Nation), 4 rpg, and had 66 steals. Her 3.5 three-pointers per game was 14th best in the Nation. She also was ranked 28th in the country in free throw percentage at 84.5%. She eclipsed the 1,500 point mark, finishing her career with 1,588, placing her 3rd all-time in IPFW history.

Joining Gearlds on the first-team for IPFW is junior center Verea Bibbs. Playing center at an undersized 6’0”, Bibbs was constantly asked to stop bigger and stronger players in the post, yet she was second in scoring on the team at 13.9 ppg. She ranked 23rd in the country in field goal accuracy at 56.3 percent, and she averaged 8.4 rebounds per game.

Junior guard Courtney Nicley was named to the Division I All-Independent second-team, and senior guard Maggie Bruening was named honorable mention.

Texas A&M head coach Jodi Kest was selected as Coach of the Year. The Islanders also swept the “Defensive Player of the Year” and “Newcomer of the Year” awards.

The selections were made by the Division I Independent women’s head coaches.

2003-04 ALL-INDEPENDENT FIRST TEAM
Name Yr. Pos. Hometown
Terra Andrews (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)@ So. F Missouri City, Texas
Vera Bibbs (IPFW) Jr. C Euclid, Ohio
Amber Elliott (Northern Colorado) Sr. G Sugar City, Colorado
Amy Gearlds (IPFW)#@ Sr. F Beech Grove, Indiana
Molly Schamel (Texas-Pan American) Jr. C Hector, New York
# - 2001-02 All-Independent First team
@ - 2002-03 All-Independent Second team

Second TEAM
Name Yr. Pos. Hometown
Kristi Dudley (Texas-Pan American) Fr. F Cedar Hill, Texas
Kirbria Lewis (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) Fr. G Baytown, Texas
Courtney Nicely (IPFW) Jr. G Lebanon, Indiana
Jackie Ododa (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) Jr. C Mombassa, Kenya
Miriam Palkki (Utah Valley State) So. F Provo, Utah

Co-Player of the Year: Terra Andrews (TAMCC) & Amy Gearlds (IPFW)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jackie Ododa (TAMCC)
Newcomer of the Year: Kirbria Lewis (TAMCC)
Coach of the Year: Jodi Kest (TAMCC)

Honorable Mention
IPFW Maggie Bruening (Sr.)
Northern Colorado Danielle Hagen (Fr.)
Texas-Pan American Amanda Carlow (Sr.), Dawnne Cheadle (Fr.)
Utah Valley State Courtney Lynn (Jr.), Beverly Visentin (Jr.), Katie Wilson (Jr.)

~Dons~