March 13, 2008

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -

            University of Northern Iowa point guard Jacqui Kalin was named Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, the league announced Thursday. It is the first time a Panther has won the award. Kalin was also selected to the All-MVC second team.

            Kalin is leading UNI with 13.3 points per game, and she is scoring 14.4 points per game in MVC play, ranking seventh in the league. She is the league-leader in free-throw percentage, connecting 90 percent of the time from the line, and 95 percent during MVC play. She also ranks third in the MVC with 4.31 assists per game. She is shooting 41.2 percent from the floor, including 32.3 percent from three-point range.

            The Panthers face Wichita State in the first round of the MVC Tournament Thursday night in St. Charles, Mo.