WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team, coaches, student-athlete's families, staff and several hundred supporters celebrated an outstanding 2015-16 season at the program's annual end of the season banquet held at the Sheraton of West Des Moines on Sunday afternoon.
 
Drake finished the season with a 23-10 record and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. The Bulldogs, led by fourth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk, recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the early 2000s.
 
Senior Emma Donahue (Naperville, Ill.) was honored for her Drake career and shared remarks with the large crowd.
 
Several awards were given out as Donahue took home a pair of awards, including the Charles E. Leonard award and Jan Jensen Academic and Service Excellence award. The Charles E. Leonard award is given to a player who embodies a positive, enthusiastic attitude towards basketball and life. Leonard is the late father of former Drake women's basketball player and current radio announcer Laura Leonard.
 
Junior Caitlin Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) was given the BeBlue Team award as voted by her teammates. This award recognizes the player who best lives out the Bulldog Way both on-and-off the court. Ingle was also the recipient of a first-year award, the Nancy Stefani Assists award, named in honor of longtime Drake women's basketball supporter and former scorekeeper, Nancy Stefani.
 
For the second-straight season, junior Lizzy Wendell (Blue Springs, Mo.) was presented with the Lorri Bauman Most Outstanding Player award. Wendell was also recognized by the Drake coaches with the the Carole Baumgarten Coaches award, which is presented to a coachable player who demonstrates leadership qualities and significant growth throughout the season.          
 
Sophomore Maddy Dean (Jordan, Minn.) and freshman Sara Rhine (Eldon, Mo.) were presented the Wanda Ford Most Outstanding Rebounder award by their coaches and teammates.
 
The banquet program also featured remarks from Baranczyk, director of athletics Sandy Hatfield Clubb, emcee and voice of Drake women's basketball and Ric Silvestrini.