March 9, 2004

Kruger Repeats as RMAC Player of the Year

Modlin Joins Kruger on RMAC's Top Team

Kearney, NE – Senior forward Allison Kruger has been named RMAC Player of the Year for the second straight season.

            The All-RMAC team was released yesterday, prior to the tourney title game between the Lopers and Fort Lewis

            A native of Paullina, Ia., Kruger joins Jennifer Warner (1996-97) and Beth Swift (2001-02) as Lopers to earn Player of the Year honors in consecutive seasons. Darcy Stracke (1999) also won the award in her UNK career.

            Despite playing with chronic foot and leg injuries, Kruger leads the team in blocks (32) while ranking second in points (12.9) and steals (1.7) and third in rebounds (6.8). She also is shooting a solid 52 percent from the field.

            On the UNK career charts, she is third in points (1,669) and fourth in rebounds (780).

            Also, Kruger and sophomore center Kalee Modlin each earned first-team All-RMAC and All-East Division honors.

            From Knoxville, Ia., Modlin leads UNK in points (17.4) and rebounds (7.9) while ranking second in blocks (31) and steals (1.8). She also is among the best shooters in the RMAC at 56.0 percent.

            The 2003 RMAC Freshman of the Year, Modlin has amassed 908 points and 374 rebounds in 57 career games.

            Finally, West Point senior Heather Steffen earned second-team All-East Division honors for the third straight year.

            The Lopers' jack of all trades, Steffen averages 9.6 points, 7.4 rebounds. 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and .76 blocks per game.

            Yesterday in the Lopers win over Fort Lewis, she became UNK's all-time leading rebounder (897), surpassing Ginger Keller's total of 894.

            She already holds the school record for rebounds in a season (276, 2002-03) and shares the record for rebounds in a game (18, vs. Chadron State, Feb. 2003).