Women's Basketball Statistics 2000-01

Overall Record: 30-5

Conference Record: 12-0

Conference Standing: 1st

Conference Tournament Finish: Champions

NAIA National Tournament Finish: First Round

INDIVIDUAL HONORS

Heidi Behnke
NAIA Division II 2nd Team All-American, MCC 1st Team All-Conference, MCC Academic All-Conference, Lakeshore All Sports Hall of Fame Senior College Female Athlete Award, MCC Player of the Week for February 12, Clarke College Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team, Viterbo University Invitational Tournament MVP, Terry Porter Tip-Off All-Tournament Team.

Kara Brandau
NAIA Division II 1st Team All-American, MCC Player of the Year, MCC 1st Team All-Conference, Academic All-Region, MCC Academic All-Conference, MCC Player of the Week for January 22, Clarke College Holiday Tournament MVP, Viterbo University Invitational All-Tournament, Terry Porter Tip-Off All-Tournament Team.

Sandy Christoffel
MCC All-Conference Honorable Mention, MCC Academic All-Conference, Lakeshore All Sports Hall of Fame Senior College Female Athlete Award.

Ellie Junker
NAIA Division II All-America Scholar-Athlete, MCC All-Conference Honorable Mention, MCC Academic All-Conference.

Lisa Saluzzi
MCC All-Conference Honorable Mention, MCC Academic All-Conference.

Darcie Vacek
NAIA Division II All-America Scholar-Athlete, MCC Academic All-Conference.

Coach Vandenberg
MCC Coach of the Year, Clarke College Holiday All-Tournament Coach.

BANQUET AWARDS

Defensive Player of the Year - Sandy Christoffel
Most Improved Player - Brenda Miller
Rookie of the Year - Charlotte Koski
John Wooden Team Spirit Award - Kirstin Monroe
Chairwoman of the Boards - Heidi Behnke 8.7 rpg
Student-Athlete of the Year - Darcie Vacek 3.84 gpa

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• The V-Hawks begin #30 in national preseason poll for 2000-2001 season.
• November 11 - Junior Lisa Saluzzi hit a game winning three-point shot to lift the V-Hawks past #23 Hastings College in the KH Sports Classic.
• November 18 - Senior Heidi Behnke and junior Kara Brandau were selected to the Terry Porter Tip-Off Classic All Tournament Teams.
• November 29 - The V-Hawks recapture the Alumni Cup and the top spot in La Crosse with a convincing, 86-62 win over UW-La Crosse.
• December 5 - The Viterbo Women's Basketball Team is ranked #25 in the national poll. This is the first time the women's basketball squad has been ranked in the Top 25 during the season.
• December 9 - Viterbo gives #12 Cardinal Stritch University its first loss of the season to win the Viterbo University Tournament. Heidi Behnke was selected tournament MVP and Kara Brandau was an All-Tournament Team selection.
• December 23 - Viterbo defeats Bethel College (IN) after having their 8 game winning streak snapped by Northwestern College (MN). Bethel was tied for the #25 spot with Viterbo.
• December 23 - Senior Heidi Behnke scored 20 points to surpass the 1,000 career points milestone in Viterbo's win over Bethel. Heidi is the 8th player in the school's history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau.
• December 30 - Head Coach Bobbi Vandenberg is named the Clarke College Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Coach. The V-Hawks won the eight-team tournament by defeating Concordia of Nebraska. Junior Kara Brandau was named the tournament's MVP and senior Heidi Behnke earned All-Tournament Team honors.
• January 9 - The Viterbo women's squad jumps 11 places in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball poll to #14.
• January 10 - Senior Ellie Junker climbs past the 1,000 career points mark as the V-Hawks open their conference season with a win over St. Ambrose. Ellie is the 9th player in Viterbo Women's Basketball history to reach the milestone.
• January 16 - The women move up six more slots in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball poll to the #8 spot.
• January 17 - The third V-Hawk of the year reaches the 1,000 career point milestone. Junior Kara Brandau broke the 1,000 career point mark as the V-Hawks scored 113 points against Iowa Wesleyan. Kara is the 10th V-Hawk in Viterbo history to reach the plateau.
• January 22 - Junior forward Kara Brandau earns MCC Player of the Week honors for the week of Jan. 15-21. Kara had a big week, leading the V-Hawks to wins over Iowa Wesleyan and Marycrest. For the week, she averaged 22.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 steals.
• January 23 - Once again the women move up in the national poll, three spots to the #5 spot.
• January 30 - Viterbo Women's Basketball earns the #4 spot in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball poll.
• January 31 - Viterbo defeats St. Ambrose on their home court, the first time in Head Coach Bobbi Vandenberg's career at Viterbo.
• February 12 - Senior forward Heidi Behnke is named MCC Player of the Week. Heidi led the V-Hawks to two victories over Grand View and Iowa Wesleyan by averaging 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 steals for the week. She was 14 of 16 from the free throw line and nailed 3 of 5 three-pointers.
• February 14 - What a SWEET valentine!! The Viterbo Women's Basketball team clinches its first ever Midwest Classic Conference Championship with a 75-74 win over Mount Mercy. It took a 30 foot pass from Heidi Behnke to Kara Brandau for the short jumper to seal the win at the buzzer.
• February 14 - The women broke the school record for consecutive wins. They have won 15 games in a row and 23 of their last 24 games.
• February 14 - The V-Hawks tied the school record for wins in a season with 25.
• February 17 - Viterbo defeats Marycrest International 68-47 at Homecoming to break the school record for wins.
• February 19 - The V-Hawks completed an undefeated season in MCC Conference Play with a 77-52 win over Mount St. Clare (12-0).
• February 24 - Viterbo moves into its second consecutive MCC Tournament Championship Game with a 80-68 win over Mount St. Clare in the Semi-finals.
• February 26 - The V-Hawks secured their first MCC Conference Tournament Championship with a 56-51 win over Grand View College. The Championship also guarantees Viterbo the MCC bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
• February 26 - Viterbo goes undefeated at home winning all 14 contests held at R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium. They continue to add to the record for wins in a season with 29 and consecutive wins with 19.
• February 27 - Kara Brandau is named MCC Player of the Year. Coach Vandenberg captures the MCC Coach of the Year.
• February 27 - Five V-Hawks earned All-Conference honors. Heidi Behnke and Kara Brandau were named to the MCC First Team while Ellie Junker, Sandy Christoffel, and Lisa Saluzzi were named MCC All-Conference Honorable Mention.
• March 7 - Viterbo moves into the NAIA Division II Sweet Sixteen by pounding Tiffin, 83-53.
• March 9 - Viterbo's season ends with a 77-72 loss to Sterling College of Kansas. Viterbo finishes the season with 30 wins and having won 21 of their last 22 games.