April 23, 2001

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Senior All-American forward Annie Garrison was named the team's most valuable player, one of many awards handed out at the Santa Clara women's basketball annual banquet last night at Mondo Burrito Restaurant.

First-year head coach Chris Denker hosted the affair, set to honor the team's graduating seniors and to thank the Bronco fans and supporters for a memorable season, in which SCU advanced to its fourth straight postseason appearance and finished with a 20-8 record.

"We're a family," Denker said, "and everybody that supported our team, from the athletic department to the parents, are an extension of that family. We wanted to officially end our season tonight with a big thank you to all who have supported us."

Garrison, an honorable mention Kodak All-American and Verizon District VIII Academic All-American, received the honor as voted by her teammates. She was also awarded the Christine Silvernail Award, a recognition given to the athlete that "best embodies what it means to be a Bronco." The award was established last season, in honor of Silvernail, the 1994 West Coast Conference Player of the Year, after she passed away as a result of a car accident. Katie Pursley received the award last season.

Each athlete received a plaque commemorating the team's WCC Regular Season Championship. The league also presented certificates for All-Conference selections to Annie Garrison, a first team honoree, and junior guards Becki Ashbaugh and Caroline Gruening, honorable mention selections. Those three, along with senior Kim Sorenson were also recognized for being named to the WCC All-Academic first team.

A 20-minute highlight video captured the team's season and included video footage of the team's quartet of graduating seniors-- Sorenson, Garrison, Glysson and Franklin--when they were just starting their basketball playing days years ago.

The seniors then read a poem they had written for the underclassmen, wishing them well in the coming years. The underclassmen returned the favor and concluded the night with a homemade video parodying each senior and summing up the sentiment of the evening with the following:

Thank you for the memories,
Kim, Annie, Jen and Kristin...
You will be missed,
More than you can imagine.

2000-01 Santa Clara Basketball Awards
Most Improved Player (in between seasons) Caroline Gruening
Most Improved Player (during the season) Kim Sorenson
Most Inspirational Player Jennifer Glysson
Best Defensive Player Caroline Gruening
Coaches Award Caroline Gruening, Kristin Franklin
Most Valuable Player Annie Garrison
Christine Silvernail Award Annie Garrison