Apr. 18– Concordia University head women's basketball coach Paul Fessler has announced the annual team awards, as voted on by the players of the 2007-08 Golden Bears at the annual team banquet. The highlights include a co-MVP selection of Amanda Behnke and Katie LaViolette, the NSIC Co-Players of the Year, while the 2008-09 captain will be Candace Olstad, who was also voted the Most Improved.

2007-08 Concordia University Team Awards
MVP	Amanda Behnke & Katie LaViolette
Most Improved	Candace Olstad
Hustle Award	Mary Schroeder
Golden Bear Award	Megan Kirchenwitz & Katie LaViolette
2008-09	Candace Olstad

The Co-MVP's was no surprise as Behnke and LaViolette have been dominating the league and region together for three seasons. Behnke was the scoring champion while LaViolette ends her career as one of the top assist leaders in NCAA Division II history.

The Most Improved player, Candace Olstad, has established herself as one of the most consistent players in the program. In 2007-08, she averaged 11.8 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 49.4% from the field and 45.2% from three-point distance.

The senior-to-be will be the team captain as well, taking over the leadership role vacated by tri-captains Behnke, LaViolette and Whitney Smetana, who each held their captain title for two seasons, helping lead Concordia to back-to-back conference regular season and tournament titles.

The Hustle Award went to the two-time NSIC Defensive Player of the Year, Mary Schroeder, who didn't dazzle the stat books, but consistently had her presence felt on the court, drawing the assignment to defend the opponent's top offensive threat on a nightly basis. Schroeder started all 28 games she played in, missing the final three games of the season due to injury.

The Golden Bear Award is awarded to the player(s) who exemplifies leadership characteristics not only on the court, but in all aspects of college life. Katie LaViolette and Megan Kirchenwitz are both members of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and were both academic all-NSIC selections.

The Golden Bears finished the season with a 28-3 record, their best overall winning percentage under Fessler, winning back-to-back Northern Sun regular season and tournament titles, the first team in league history to defend both titles. They reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season and recorded 20 or more wins for the seventh straight time. Their 18-0 start set a school record for best start and longest winning streak.