Big Ten recognizes Beasley, Wittinger, McConnell
Illinois’ Brandi Beasley shoots a three during the game against Indiana at State Farm Center on Saturday. The Illini advanced in the tournament on Wednesday to play the Boilermakers.
February 28, 2017
The Big Ten honored Illinois women’s basketball players Alex Wittinger, Brandi Beasley and Ashley McConnell on Monday.
Wittinger, a sophomore forward, received an All-Big Ten honorable mention as voted on by coaches as well as media members. Wittinger led the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks per game and became the eighth player in Illinois history to record 100 blocks in a season.
She became the seventh-highest blocker in Illini history this season. Wittinger also led the team in scoring and rebounding — 14.4 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game — and recorded 10 double-doubles over the course of the year.
Beasley was selected for the all-freshmen team by Big Ten coaches. Beasley was second on the team in scoring and second among Big Ten freshmen in scoring with 13.4 points per game. She also led the Illini with 112 assists, becoming the fourth Illini freshman to ever record over 100 assists.
Beasley also earned an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten teams as voted for by media members.
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Beasley played her way into consideration for the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, but the team’s 11-game losing streak to finish the season made it hard to select her among the tough competition. In the end, both the coaches and the media gave the award to No. 4 Maryland’s Destiny Slocum.
Illinois’ sole senior, McConnell was selected as Illinois’ Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. McConnell is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was named a 2016 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. The Sportsmanship nominees are chosen for demonstrating good citizenship off the court.
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