May 5, 2008 - courtesy of Blackburn College sports information
BLACKBURN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AMONG MOST IMPROVED IN NATION

CARLINVILLE, Ill. - As a result of their great strides made this year, the Blackburn College women’s basketball team has been recognized as one of the most improved teams in all of NCAA Division III for the 2007-08 season.

The Blackburn women are listed among the most improved teams on the NCAA website (www.ncaa.org). The Beavers jumped from a 3-22 campaign last season to an 11-15 mark this year, an improvement of 7.5 wins.

Only fourteen teams in the nation showed more improvement than Blackburn.  A total of 412 schools sponsor women’s basketball at the NCAA Division III level.

The mention is just the latest honor for the Blackburn women, who qualified for the postseason St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament and enjoyed the most victories in a season since 2001-02. Blackburn won seven of their last nine regular-season games, the program’s hottest stretch since late in the 2000-01 season.

The Beavers featured the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year in freshman forward Sierra Shipley (Waukegan, Ill.), who was also a first-team all-conference selection.   In addition, first-year head coach Mike Williams, who has infused energy, optimism, and a winning attitude into the program, was named SLIAC Coach of the Year, the first Blackburn women’s basketball coach to earn the honor in twelve years. 

His efforts have also paid off with a stellar incoming class of recruits, which should ensure that the rise of Blackburn women’s basketball will continue.

Williams was especially pleased at the NCAA mention.  “We’re very proud of it,” said Williams.  “We hope that it will encourage even more people to join us to play basketball and receive their education from Blackburn.”