Jan. 23, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern held its annual end of the year banquet Saturday night, Jan. 21, to pay tribute to its 2005 squad that went farther into the postseason than any previous team in Wildcat history.

Northwestern honored its seniors, Lizzie Carlson (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) and Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./West Bend East), for leading the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances during their careers and for notching the Wildcats' first postseason victory this season.

Sophomore Stephanie Jurivich (LaGrange, Ill./St. Ignatius) earned the team's Academic Award, while junior Julie Purcell (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) was tabbed for the Will to Win honor. Freshman Chelsy Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) took home the Leaps and Bounds award as the squad's most improved player in 2005.