2012-2013 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LETTERS OF INTENT SIGNEES
The following student-athletes have signed NJCAA letters of intent to continue their academic and basketball careers at Prairie State College beginning in the Fall 2012 semester:
- G- Jakeenya Evans (Champaign Central H.S.)
- G – Kewanee Garrett (Champaign Central H.S.)
- F – Faith Foulks (Thornridge H.S)
- F – Shanterra Jones (East Chicago Central H.S.)
- G - Tekeshia O’Neal (Tilden H.S.)
April 17, 2012
EDWARDS BECOMES PSC’S FIRST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICAN
When Prairie State College head women’s basketball coach Jeff Boyd saw sophomore guard Ryan Edwards (Walther Lutheran H.S.) for the first time, he didn’t exactly envision his program’s first all-american.
“The first time that I saw Ryan Edwards I said to myself ‘What is this little girl going to do for us,” said Boyd, the 2011-12 NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Year. “What I didn’t know was the size of her heart.”
Following a stellar two-year career as a Pioneer, the 5-foot-6 Edwards was presented with the ultimate honor for a college basketball player as she recently found out that she was an NJCAA Third-Team All-America selection.
The 5-foot-6 Edwards’ crowning achievement at PSC was helping the Pioneers claim their first-ever NJCAA Region IV championship and berth in the NJCAA Championship Tournament.
“We as a coaching staff knew Ryan not only had the skills to become an elite player in our region, but she also had the IQ that would set her apart from the rest,” Boyd said. “It was such a pleasure to have had the opportunity to coach such a well-rounded individual, which made my job that much more enjoyable this season.”
In 32 games this season, Edwards has totaled 484 points, good for a 15.3 points per game average. She has also amassed 114 assists and 70 steals.
Edwards’ best overall effort of the campaign came in PSC’s 71-32 win over Waubonsee Jan. 10. In that contest, she tallied a career-high 28 points, courtesy of an 11-of-18 effort from the floor, which included a 6-of-8 showing from three-point range. She also dished out six assists and made off with two steals.
In 36 games during the 2011-12 season, Edwards has delivered eight games of 20 or more points and 24 tilts with 10 or more tallies.
In 68 career games at PSC she has tallied 861 points (12.6 ppg) and recorded 261 assists (3.8 per game).
“I’m proud to have our first women’s basketball All-American be Ryan Edwards,” Boyd said. “She has set the bar extremely high here at Prairie State for anyone trying to fill her shoes.”
PSC finished the season with a school-record 29-7 overall record.
April 5, 2012
POSTSEASON ACCOLADES APLENTY FOR PSC'S BOYD
When Prairie State College women's basketball coach Jeff Boyd first took over the program in 2007, the Pioneers were mired in the lowest of lows.
Now, after five seasons at the helm, the Pioneers have soared to the highest of highs.
The 2011-12 campaign was certainly one for the ages at PSC.
The Pioneers, who finished the slate with a school-record 29 wins, claimed their first-ever NJCAA Region IV championship and berth in the NJCAA Championship Tournament.
Boyd's team also claimed PSC's first-ever victory at a national tournament following a 59-30 second-round triumph over Erie (NY), March 22.
Following all of his team's accomplishments throughout the year, Boyd is now receiving some well-deserved recognition of his own.
Boyd, who earned the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year Award in 2011 after PSC claimed the league title, recently picked up a trio of postseason accolades.
Boyd, who owns a 94-68 career record at Prairie State, was named the Region IV, District D and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year Awards.
"As the old cliché goes, 'Hard work pays off,'" said Boyd, a Thornridge High School product. "Not that you go into a season looking to become coach of the year, but the time, support and effort you give to your team and then see the fruit of your labor.
"I would like to thank my assistants, who have done an excellent job helping maintain the discipline and integrity we displayed to reach such goals we set for ourselves this season. I want to thank the players for their commitment and perseverance on and off the court. So, it is an honor to accept such an award and I am proud to have had the opportunity to coach an exciting group of ladies this season."
March 7, 2012
EDWARDS GARNERS ANOTHER HONOR
Prairie State College sophomore Ryan Edwards (Walther Lutheran H.S.) will need to clear some space on her already chocked-full mantel of accomplishments.
The 5-foot-6 shooting guard was recently selected to the NJCAA All-Region IV First Team.
Edwards, who was the region’s second-leading vote-getter, also recently made the All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference First Team.
“Prairie State should be very proud to have a person such as Ryan Edwards associated with their athletic program,” PSC head coach Jeff Boyd said. “She is the prime example of a true student-athlete. She is a leader and competitor on the hardwood and a scholar with honors in her field of study.
“Ryan possesses the ability, character and attitude to help build the foundation of a program and the heart to put the finishing touches on a successful season. This all-region award that she has received is just a scratch on the surface of what she has in store for the rest of her athletic career.”
Edwards has played an instrumental role in the Pioneers reaching the Region IV title game for a second straight year, following a 68-64 win over Kankakee in a dramatic semifinal Saturday.
“We’ve asked Ryan to carry a lot of our team’s weight and she has proven game after game that she can handle the task while maintaining the high standards that we set,” Boyd said. “I am proud to have watched her grow into the player she has become today and am even more excited about her future.”
In 32 games this season, Edwards has totaled 484 points, good for a 15.1 points per game average. She has also amassed 114 assists and 70 steals.
Edwards’ best overall effort of the campaign came in PSC’s 71-32 win over Waubonsee Jan. 10. In that contest, she tallied a career-high 28 points, courtesy of an 11-of-18 effort from the floor, which included a 6-of-8 showing from three-point range. She also dished out six assists and made off with two steals.
So far on the slate, Edwards has delivered eight games of 20 or more points and 24 tilts with 10 or more tallies.
In 64 career games at PSC she has tallied 794 points (12.4 ppg) and recorded 249 assists (3.8 per game).
The Pioneers currently own a school-record 27-5 overall mark.
February 28, 2012
QUARTET OF PIONEERS LOCK DOWN ALL-CONFERENCE SPOTS
In a season which has already produced a program-record 25 wins to date, the Prairie State College women’s basketball team received another dose of encouraging news Sunday.
Four Pioneers found spots for themselves on the All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference teams.
Standout sophomore guard Ryan Edwards (Walther Lutheran H.S.) and freshman center Danielle Zandstra (Heritage Christian H.S., Ind.) both earned slots on the league’s first team.
Sophomore forward Jacquice Cooper (T.F. North H.S.) and sophomore guard Rebecca Dill (Bloom H.S.) both made the second team.
Edwards, PSC’s leading scorer in conference play, was also the runner-up for the Skyway Player of the Year Award.
The 5-foot-6 Edwards was the conference’s second-leading scorer thanks to a17.1 points per game average.
She also averaged 3.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game in league tilts.
Edwards turned in her best outing of the conference slate in the Pioneers’ 71-32 win over Waubonsee on Jan. 10.
In that contest, Edwards poured in a career-high 28 points, courtesy of an 11-of-18 shooting performance from the field and 6-of-8 effort from three-point territory.
She registered five games of 20 or more points and scored in double figures in 11 of PSC’s 14 Skyway tilts.
Zandstra took the floor in 13 league matchups and produced a13.3 points per game scoring average. She also pulled down an average of 7.9 rebounds per contest and swatted away three shots per game.
The 6-foot-1 Zandstra’s strongest showing in league play came in PSC’s 62-50 win over Moraine Valley Jan. 24. In that contest Zandstra dropped in 22 points, while securing 13 rebounds and blocking three shots.
Zandstra also produced four double-doubles within the league.
Cooper averaged 5.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in conference play. She also came away with 24 steals.
Her best showing in a Skyway tilt came in Prairie State’s 58-55 overtime win against league foe Moraine Valley Feb. 14. In that tilt, Cooper recorded her only double-double of the league schedule, courtesy of a 10-point, 12-rebound showing.
Dill scored at a 6.5 points per game clip and canned 20 three-pointers. She also ripped down 49 rebounds, good for a 4.0 average.
Dill’s season-high point total in conference action came in PSC’s 81-34 win over Morton on Feb. 16. The 5-foot-6 sharp-shooter tallied 14 points to go along with her four rebounds and two steals.
The Pioneers finished in a second-place tie with Waubonsee in the Skyway standings with an 11-3 mark.
February 20, 2012
ZANDSTRA SECURES SECOND STRAIGHT REGION IV HONOR
The Prairie State College Athletic Department was pleased to recently learn that freshman center Danielle Zandstra (Heritage Christian H.S., Ind.) was selected the NJCAA Region IV Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending February 19.
The award marks the second consecutive week that Zandstra has garnered the honor. She also received the recognition for the week ending February 13.
Three Pioneers have earned the award this season.
Sophomore guard Ryan Edwards (Walther Lutheran, H.S.) has been recognized twice, claiming the honor for the weeks ending Jan. 15 and Jan. 29 respectively.
Fellow sophomore guard Rebecca Dill (Bloom H.S.) was also selected for the week ending Dec. 11, 2011.
In two games during the week, both of which resulted in PSC wins, Zandstra tallied 35 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked six shots.
Her best effort during that stretch came in the Pioneers' 58-55 overtime win over Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference rival Moraine Valley on Feb. 14. In that contest, Zandstra registered 22 points, hauled in 13 rebounds and came up with three blocks.
Zandstra is currently ranked 13th nationally in blocks per game (3.0).
February 13, 2012
ZANDSTRA SECURES FIRST REGION IV HONOR
The Prairie State College Athletic Department was pleased to recently learn that freshman center Danielle Zandstra (Heritage Christian H.S., Ind.) was selected the NJCAA Region IV Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending February 12.
The award marks the first time this season that Zandstra has garnered the honor.
The 6-foot-1 Zandstra is the third Pioneer to earn the recognition this season.
Sophomore guard Ryan Edwards (Walther Lutheran, H.S.) has been recognized twice, claiming the honor for the weeks ending Jan. 15 and Jan. 29 respectively.
Fellow sophomore guard Rebecca Dill (Bloom H.S.) was also selected for the week ending Dec. 11, 2011.
In two games during the week, both of which resulted in PSC wins, Zandstra tallied 33 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and blocked nine shots.
Her best effort during that stretch came in the Pioneers’ 83-27 win over McHenry on Feb. 7. In that contest, Zandstra registered 18 points, hauled in 11 rebounds and came up with six blocks.
She also played a pivotal role in PSC’s dramatic 62-59 overtime win against Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference front-runner Elgin, Feb. 9. Zandstra dropped in 15 points, snagged eight rebounds and swatted away three shots in that effort.
Zandstra currently sits 11th in blocks per game nationally. She also has been a key member in the Pioneers’ outstanding team defense, which is currently ranked third nationally (47.5 points allowed per game).
In 27 contests this year, Zandstra is averaging 11.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game.
January 30, 2012
EDWARDS PICKS UP SECOND REGION IV PLAYER OF WEEK HONOR
The Prairie State College Athletic Department was pleased to learn recently that sophomore guard Ryan Edwards (Walther Lutheran H.S.) of the women’s basketball team was selected the NJCAA Region IV Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 29.
The honor is Edwards’ second of the year. The 5-foot-6 shooting guard also garnered the accolade for the week ending January 15.
For her latest selection, Edwards posted 43 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and six steals in three games during the week.
She saved her best effort for the Pioneers’ 62-50 win over Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference rival Moraine Valley on January 24. In that contest, Edwards dropped in 20 points, pulled down three rebounds, handed out three assists and came away with three steals.
In 23 games this season, Edwards is averaging 14.7 points per contest.
The Pioneers currently own a 19-4 overall record and 6-1 mark in league play.
January 17, 2012
EDWARDS GARNERS REGION IV PLAYER OF WEEK HONOR
The Prairie State College Athletic Department was pleased to learn recently that sophomore guard Ryan Edwards (Walther Lutheran H.S.) of the women’s basketball team was selected the NJCAA Region IV Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 15.
Edwards turned in an outstanding effort in the Pioneers’ lone contest of the week, dropping in a career-high 28 points in PSC’s 71-32 win over Waubonsee January 10.
In that game, Edwards shot 11-of-16 from the field, draining six three-pointers, grabbing four rebounds and coming away with a pair of steals.
The Region IV award is Edwards’ first of the season.
The Pioneers currently own a 15-3 overall record and 2-0 mark in Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference action.
December 15, 2011
DILL CLAIMS HER FIRST REGION IV PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
The Prairie State College Athletic Department was pleased to learn recently that sophomore guard Rebecca Dill (Bloom H.S.) was selected the NJCAA Region IV Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending December 11.
In two contests during the week, both of which resulted in PSC wins, Dill totaled 32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 steals and six assists.
Dill's best work came in the Pioneers' 86-43 triumph over Triton on Dec. 8. In that tilt, Dill dropped in 18 points while collecting seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The 5-foot-6 Dill also tallied 14 points, eight steals, four rebounds and a pair of assists in an 82-31 win over Milwaukee Tech on Dec. 10.
Through 14 games this season, Dill is averaging 10.7 points and 3.50 steals per contest.
PIONEERS AT THE NEXT LEVEL
The following 2010-2011 Prairie State College women’s basketball players are currently attending four-year institutions.
- Shauneia McPhearson – Georgian Court University
- Tara Spell – North Park University
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