April 19, 2004

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Senior forward Jennie Rondel was named the team's Most Outstanding Player, one of many awards handed out at the Santa Clara University women's basketball annual banquet Sunday evening at Mondo Burrito Restaurant.

Second-year head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson hosted the affair, set to honor the team's graduating seniors and to thank the Bronco fans and supporters for a memorable season.

Rondel, an All-Tournament team honoree for her efforts and the West Coast Conference Championship, received the top honor as voted by her teammates. The Kirkland, Wash., native earned honorable mention All-WCC honors while seeing action in all 29 contests for the Broncos. She led the team in scoring, averaging 11.5 points. Rondel had many career highlights this season, including shooting 7-7 from the field at Gonzaga, and becoming only sixth player in SCU history to not miss an attempt. She then netted first career double-double on Senior Night against Portland, and stayed hot through the tournament, making a career-high 22 points against San Francisco, only to follow that with a new personal-best 28 points against Pepperdine, hitting five three-pointers in the process.

"I want to send much thanks to everybody," Rondel said later in the evening, as she and Whitney Sutak were being recognized as the team's graduating seniors. "The support from our dedicated fans has been wonderful. You have touched our hearts and we will remember you forever."

Freshman guard Yasemin Kimyacioglu was named the team's Best Defensive Player while also receiving the Coaches' Award. The Mountain View native started 19 contests and was always asked to guard the opponent's top offensive player and she frequently did well in that task, shutting down the opposition with her strong defensive skills. Kimyacioglu's attitude, spirit and dedication also played a vital role to the team's success this past season.

Freshmen teammates Ashley Graham and Kasey Monteith were honored with Most Improved Player awards, while fellow newcomers were also honored, as Jenni Gottschalk was named Ms. Spark Plug, and Anna Martin received the Christine Silvernail Award, a recognition given to the athlete that "best embodies what it means to be a Bronco." The award was established in 2000, in honor of Silvernail, the 1994 WCC Player of the Year, after she passed away as a result of a car accident.

The four-hour event ended with a 20-minute highlight video that captured the team's season.

2003-04 Santa Clara Basketball Awards