March 22, 2005

Grand Valley State head coach Dawn Plitzuweit was named the 2005 Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year and junior forward Niki Reams earned Kodak/WBCA All-American honors. The announcement was made at the Elite Eight banquet Tuesday in Hot Springs, Ark.

Plitzuweit, in her third season at the helm of the Lakers, has tallied a 62-27 record and led GVSU to two NCAA appearances. She guided Grand Valley to a school-best 28-record this season, a GLIAC Tournament Championship title, its first-ever Great Lakes Region Championship, and an Elite Eight appearance. Dawn is 37-17 in GLIAC action and 8-2 in postseason contests.

Reams, the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region and GLIAC Tournament MVP, leads the Lakers in scoring (18.8), rebounding (8.7), steals (2.2), shooting percentage (54.8) and free throw percentage (79.6). She also earned Daktronics Third Team All-American, Daktronics Great Lakes Region Co-Player of the Year, and Daktronics First-Team All-Region plaudits. Reams was the GLIAC Player of the Year and was named to the All-GLIAC First Team and North Division All-Defensive First Team.

Niki's 622 points ranks third on Grand Valley's single-season list and her 287 rebounds is seventh. She has posted 14 double-doubles this season and has scored in double figures in 18 straight games.

Grand Valley State will play Seattle Pacific in the Elite Eight on Wednesday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. EST in Hot Springs, Ark.