WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team, coaches, student-athlete's families, staff and several hundred supporters celebrated a historic 2016-17 season on Sunday, April 9 afternoon at the program's annual end of the season banquet held at the Sheraton of West Des Moines.
 
Drake finished the magical season with a 28-5 overall record after cruising to the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament title with an 18-0 league record. The 28 victories tied the all-time mark single season total in program history. Drake qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.
 
Several players, led by seniors Caitlin Ingle and Lizzy Wendell, won numerous individual awards. Wendell garnered multiple All-America honorable mention accolades and was the MVC Jackie Stiles Player of the Year while Ingle was named the MVC Tournament MVP and to the All-MVC First Team. Head coach Jennie Baranczyk was named MVC Coach of the Year and freshman Becca Hittner was the MVC Freshman of the Year.
 
At the banquet, Ingle and Wendell along with fellow senior Cortni Rush were honored for their outstanding Drake careers and each shared remarks with the large crowd.
 
Several awards were given out as Rush won the Charles E. Leonard award. The Charles E. Leonard award is given to a student-athlete who embodies a positive, enthusiastic attitude towards basketball and life. Leonard is the late father of former Drake women's basketball player Laura Leonard.
 
For the third-straight season, Wendell was presented with the Lorri Bauman Most Outstanding Player award. Des Moines native Lorri Bauman was the first woman in NCAA history to score 3,000 career points. The Most Outstanding Player Award is presented to the player that provided a high level of scoring and contributions in all aspects of the game.
 
Ingle was given the Jan Jensen Academic and Service Excellence award, the BeBlue Team award and was also the recipient for the second-straight year of the Nancy Stefani Assists award, named in honor of longtime Drake women's basketball supporter and former scorekeeper, Nancy Stefani. The Jan Jensen Academic and Service Excellence Award is presented to the student-athlete that excels in the classroom and is a team leader in serving her community. The recipient of the BeBlue Team Award is selected by her teammates for exemplifying what it means to live out the characteristics of being a Drake women's basketball player in its most true and "real" form.
 
Sophomore Sammie Bachrodt was awarded the Carole Baumgarten Coaches award, which is presented to a coachable player who demonstrates leadership qualities and significant growth throughout the season.         
 
Hittner were presented the Wanda Ford Most Outstanding Rebounder award. The Wanda Ford Most Outstanding Rebounder Award is named for Drake's greatest rebounder. Wanda Ford is ranked second in the NCAA record books for career rebounds and rebounds in a single season.
 
The banquet program also featured remarks from Baranczyk, director of athletics Sandy Hatfield Clubb and emcee Ric Silvestrini.