Jenna Smith named to All-Big Ten first team

In his latest blog entry, Tony Bleill talks about how difficult some of the spots were to pick on his All-Big Ten team. To read more, click here.

CHAMPAIGN — Jenna Smith joined exclusive company on Monday night.

Smith, a junior for Jolette Law’s Illini women, was named to the All-Big Ten first team for the second consecutive season.

Smith joins Allison Curtin (2000, ’01), Ashley Berggren (1996, ’97, ’98) and Jonelle Polk (1986, ’87) as the only players in school history to receive back-to-back honors.

Smith was a first-teamer in separate voting by the media and coaches. Teammate Lacey Simpson was named to the third team by the media, while being an honorable mention selection by the coaches. She also was named to the five-player All-Defensive team, which is voted on by the coaches.

“Jenna and Lacey have carried our team all season and I’m happy to see them both get recognized,” Law said. “If they are both at the top of their games this week I think we can make another long run in the Big Ten Tournament.”

Smith is averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds heading into Thursday’s conference tournament opener against Penn State (approximately 3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network). She has a streak of 37 consecutive games of scoring in double figures and in Sunday’s game became the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots.

“Jenna has been a rock for our team this year,” Law said. “She never takes a rest and she puts up big numbers every game despite being constantly double- and triple-teamed. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I wouldn’t trade Jenna for any other post in the country. She can do it all, and the scary thing is she’s only scratching the surface of her potential.”

Simpson (11.2 points, 9.0 rebounds) needs four steals to break the school’s career steals mark. She is bidding to become the second player in UI history to lead her team in steals, rebounds and assists. Curtin, during the 2000-01 season, is the other.

“I think Lacey is the most complete player in the conference,” Law said.

Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender was honored as Player of the Year for the second straight season by both the media and the coaches. Lavender and Smith were joined on the media’s first team by Penn State’s Tyra Grant, Purdue’s Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and Iowa’s Kristi Smith.

Coaches

FIRST TEAM
Jenna Smith (Illinois); Kristi Smith (Iowa); JANTEL LAVENDER (Ohio State); Tyra Grant (Penn State); LINDSAY WISDOM-HYLTON (Purdue)

SECOND TEAM
Jamie Braun (Indiana); Whitney Thomas (Indiana); Kachine Alexander (Iowa); Allyssa DeHaan (Michigan State); Emily Fox (Minnesota)

THIRD TEAM
Wendy Ausdemore (Iowa); Ashley Ellis-Milan (Minnesota); Amy Jaeschke (Northwestern); Star Allen (Ohio State); Lakisha Freeman (Purdue)

HONORABLE MENTION
Lacey Simpson (Illinois); Amber Jackson (Indiana); Megan Skouby (Iowa); Aisha Jefferson (Michigan State); Kalisha Keane (Michigan State); Samantha Prahalis (Ohio State); Alyssa Karel (Wisconsin)

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Lacey Simpson (Illinois); Kim Roberson (Indiana); Allyssa DeHaan (Michigan State); SHAVELLE LITTLE (Ohio State); Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (Purdue)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jantel Lavender (Ohio State)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jim Foster (Ohio State)
SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brittany Rayburn (Purdue)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shavelle Little (Ohio State)
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Samantha Prahalis (Ohio State)

Media

FIRST TEAM

Jenna Smith (Illinois); Kristi Smith (Iowa); JANTEL LAVENDER (Ohio State); Tyra Grant (Penn State); Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (Purdue)

SECOND TEAM
Whitney Thomas (Indiana); Allyssa DeHaan (Michigan State); Emily Fox (Minnesota); Amy Jaeschke (Northwestern); Samantha Prahalis (Ohio State)

THIRD TEAM
Lacey Simpson (Illinois); Jamie Braun (Indiana); Kachine Alexander (Iowa); Ashley Ellis-Milan (Minnesota); Star Allen (Ohio State)

HONORABLE MENTION
Amber Jackson (Indiana); Wendy Ausdemore (Iowa); Megan Skouby (Iowa); Aisha Jefferson (Michigan State); Lykendra Johnson (Michigan State); Brittney Thomas (Michigan State); Brianne O'Rourke (Penn State); Danielle Campbell (Purdue); Lakisha Freeman (Purdue); FahKara Malone (Purdue); Alyssa Karel (Wisconsin)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jantel Lavender (Ohio State)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jim Foster (Ohio State)
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Samantha Prahalis (Ohio State)

Sportsmanship Awards
Illinois - Lacey Simpson
Indiana - Andrea McGuirt
Iowa - Wendy Ausdemore
Michigan - Carly Benson
Michigan State - Lauren Aitch
Minnesota - Kay Sylva
Northwestern - Ellen Jaeschke
Ohio State - Maria Moeller
Penn State - Mashea Williams
Purdue - Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton
Wisconsin - Anya Covington
NOTE: Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS

 

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