Walker named MVP of MIAA

March 4, 2002

Crystal Walker, a 6-foot junior forward from Osawatomie, Kan., was named MIAA Most Valuable Player Monday afternoon. Walker led the conference in field goal percentage (52.4%) and was fourth in scoring (16.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.6 rpg). Walker became the first underclassman to win the honor since Emporia State’s Aneta Kausaite shared the 1996-97 award as a junior. Walker earned MIAA Player of the Week honors three times this season.

Walker was joined on the MIAA first team by junior Carissa Goeglein. Goeglein, a 5-10 junior from Yuma, Colo., finished seventh in the MIAA in scoring (14.4 ppg), 15th in rebounding (5.6 rpg) and second in field goal percentage (50.2%). Goeglein transfered toWashburn from Western Nebraska Community College prior to this season.

Walker and Goeglein became the first Washburn duo since Ronda Matzke and Shelley Foster in 1992-93 to be named to the first team All-MIAA. Foster was the last player to earn MIAA MVP honors in 1992-93, while Nikki Olberding was the last Washburn player to earn first team All-MIAA honors in 1997-98.