On April 18th the Northland College LumberJill Basketball Program gathered for their end of the year awards banquet. The LumberJill’s celebrated another successful year finishing 18-9 in the regular season and 12-2 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. The pre-season UMAC favorite LumberJill’s managed to overcome a couple of key injuries to leading scorers during the season until they were stopped in the last week of the season dropping them to a second place finish in the UMAC. Northland was however rewarded for their efforts during the season with an invitation to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament. It was the first time a team from Northland College had ever competed in an NCAA Championship Tournament.
Sam Stanfield, a freshman from Deerwood, MN received this year’s Outstanding Freshman Award. Stanfield made a major contribution this year for the LumberJill’s stepping into a starting role for the injured Maria Mackey and averaging 4.5 points per game and 2.7 rebounds. Senior Mel Waytashek from Little Falls, MN was awarded this year’s Best Defensive Player Award. Waytashek was the LumberJill’s second leading rebounder at 5 rebounds per game. The Leadership Award went to senior Chelsea Lundgren. Lundgren, a senior from Crosby, MN was the most consistent player for the LumberJill’s this season holding things together while the LumberJill’s battled injuries. The Northland College women had two Most Valuable Player’s this year. The Co-MVP’s were Seniors Lindsey Hamm and Chelsea Lundgren. Hamm, from Ontonagon, MI, led the LumberJill’s in scoring at 11 points per game and assists at 3 assists per game. Hamm missed nearly 5 games late in the season with a severe ankle injury. Lundgren led the LumberJill’s in rebounding at 5.6 rebounds per game. She was second in scoring at 9.2 points per game.
The LumberJill’s also gave special recognition to graduating senior Allen Dalke, the internet voice of the Northland College men’s and women’s basketball programs.