News for Immediate Release
Contact: Amber Cox, AMC Director of Information
573/ 441-8685 (Phone & Fax)

McKendree College Captures Automatic Bid to
National Tournament

Columbia, Mo. - The McKendree College women's basketball team secured its spot in the NAIA National Tournament bracket last night, defeating William Woods University in the championship game of the American Midwest Conference post-season tournament. McKendree, the #1 seed in the tournament, defeated the #2 seed, William Woods, 69-64 in overtime. The Bearcats (22-10) will compete in the NAIA's 32-team national tournament on March 17-23 at the Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn.

In addition, in a vote by league coaches, Vimbayi Muhoma, a forward for the Hannibal-LaGrange College Trojans, has been chosen as the 1998-99 AMC Most Valuable Player for women's basketball. The 6-0 senior from Bulowaya, Zimbabwe played in all 27 games for the Trojans and averaged 17.9 points per game during the regular-season. Muhoma shot 50 percent from the field, connecting on 181 of her 362 attempts. In addition, throughout the season, Muhoma ranked as one of the top rebounders in NAIA Division I competition, grabbing close to 11 rebounds per outing.

Kristin Knopik, a 5-7 guard for the Trojans, is the 1998-99 women's basketball AMC Freshman of the Year. Knopik, who hails from Omaha, Neb., averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for Hannibal-LaGrange this season. She passed out close to two assists and swiped two steals per outing as well, helping the Trojans to a third place finish in AMC regular-season competition.

The AMC Newcomer of the Year honor is bestowed upon the top transfer student in the AMC. Arletha Lewis, a 5-9 senior forward for Harris-Stowe State College, is the 1998-99 recipient of this award for women's basketball. Lewis, a native of St. Louis, Mo., provided an immediate impact on Harris-Stowe's offensive attack. She averaged 12.9 points per outing in the regular-season, scoring 309 points in 24 games. In addition, Lewis grabbed 249 rebounds in regular-season play, averaging 6.2 per contest.

The AMC Coach of the Year is Joe C. Meriweather from Park College. Meriweather led the Pirates to an AMC regular-season record of 4-6 and a fourth place finish in AMC regular-season play.

A complete list of the 10-member AMC All-Conference team, the Honorable Mention squad and the Academic All-Conference team, is included below. Members of the Academic All-Conference team have earned at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Harris-Stowe State College
Michelle Carr, Maisha Ellison

McKendree College
Gina Bloemer, Danna Gilbert, Nicole Hartrich, Kristin Hustedde, Nicole Markus, Amy May, Amy McMullen, Sarah Miller, Kelly Nettleton, Amy Niebrugge, Sarah Niebrugge, Jackie Shubert, Kelly Suess, Leah Wessel, Alecia Wendte, Nicole Pellmann

Missouri Baptist College
Amy Rider, Stephanie Simpson, Amanda Ortmann, Tracey Viehland, Jennifer Bixler, Pam Wieseman, Dawn Loar, Becky Wilson

Park College
Glenda Grant, Lakisha Davenport, Dina Johnson, Muneerah Williams, Courtney Husbands, Tamara Pierce

William Woods University
Amy O'Brien, Tammy Eckart, Meghan Fowler, Amber Cox, Daphne Mawson, Hayley Veulemans, Betsy Cast, Connilee Boehne, Laura Borghardt, Tracy Jentzen