TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? Indiana State women's basketball coach Jim Wiedie announced today (April 23) that Sycamore freshman Kelsie Cooley (Dayton, Ohio/Beavercreek) is this year's recipient of the Brenda Howell Spirit Award.
This award is presented following each basketball season to an ISU women's player whose passion for the game and desire in the classroom matches that of Brenda Howell, an avid ISU women's basketball supporter, who passed away in 2005. As part of the award, Cooley will receive a personalized plaque which will commemorate her achievement, and she will be listed on a perpetual plaque which hangs in the women's basketball locker room. The names of each year's winners are added to the plaque as they are honored.
Kristen Weddle took the first Brenda Howell Spirit Award in 2006, followed by Leah Phillips in 2007. The Brenda Howell Spirit Award will be formally presented to Cooley during a pre-game ceremony at the first regular season home game of the 2008-09 season.
Howell family and friends have established an endowed scholarship that benefits the Indiana State University Women's Basketball program. Individuals interested in making a contribution to the Brenda Howell Spirit Award scholarship fund are encouraged to contact the ISU Foundation's Athletics Development Office at 812-237-4444.
"We are truly honored to have an award in the memory of Brenda Howell," Wiedie commented. "Brenda was a long time supporter and fan of our program. She was a courageous woman, with a fighting spirit, who genuinely cared more about those around her than she did for herself."
Cooley recently wrapped up a very successful campaign for the women's basketball team. She finished the season by averaging 3.9 ppg and pulling down 2.1 rebounds per contest. Cooley connected on 37-of-79 shots from the field and hit 73.1% (38-of-52) of her free throw attempts. Cooley also posted three blocked shots and 13 steals on the season. She recorded a career-high 13 points at Drake on Feb. 29, while also rounding out of the regular season with an eight-point effort versus league co-champion Evansville at Hulman Center. In her addition to exploits on the basketball floor, Cooley maintains a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in Business Education.
"Kelsie Cooley embodies everything that the Brenda Howell Spirit is about," Wiedie said. "She is a fiery competitor, who brought her best to this program both on and off the court each and every day. Kelsie is an excellent teammate, and is someone that is totally committed to growing as a player and person through hard work and dedication. I think Brenda would be extremely proud to know that Kelsie is the recipient of this season's Spirit Award."
