Panthers Cap 2005-06 Season At Annual BanquetMILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 25, 2006) - Freshman Traci Edwards was named Team Most Valuable Player and the Panthers said goodbye to four seniors, when the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team celebrated its 2005-06 season at its annual post-season banquet last Sunday at the Milwaukee Hilton City Center. Edwards and senior Molly O'Brien were the big award winners, as Edwards also earned an award as the team's top rebounder. O'Brien was named the team's Best Defensive Player as well as Most Inspirational. Sophomore Aubri Rote earned the Scholastic Team Award and freshman Katie Fournier was selected as the Most Improved Player. Sophomore Meredith Onson rounded out the award winners with the team's Free Throw Award after leading the team in free throw percentage (.811). The Panthers celebrated the success of their 22-9 season, as they set school Division I records with 22 wins and a 12-game winning streak. They also won their second Horizon League Regular Season and Tournament Championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history. Edwards led the team this season with 16.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She became the fourth Panther, and first freshman, to average a double-double for the season, while picking up 15 double-doubles on the year. The League Newcomer of the Year finished the season with 500 points and 311 rebounds, both freshman records, and was selected first-team all-league and league tournament MVP. O'Brien was named the Team's Best Defensive Player for the third-straight year and Most Inspirational for the second-straight time. She is the first player to earn the defensive award three times or most inspirational twice. She finished the year with a team-high 59 steals while also averaging 10.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. O'Brien was also one of four seniors honored at the event, joining Nichole Drummond, Amanda Cook and student assistant Anne Witte. Witte played three seasons for UWM, before spending last season on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury. Most Valuable Player: Traci Edwards Best Defensive Player: Molly O'Brien Most Inspirational Player: Molly O'Brien Most Improved Player: Katie Fournier
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