The close race for the Big 10 women’s championship is being matched by an equally close race for the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
An informal check of Big 10 coaches shows that a contest among three guards–sophomores Lindsay Whalen of Minnesota and Kelly Mazzante of Penn State and senior Kelly Komara of Purdue–is too close to call.
– Mazzante leads the Big 10 and the nation with a 25.3 scoring average.
– Whalen has led the Gophers, 7-20 overall and 1-15 in the Big 10 last year, to records of 19-4 and 9-3 and a No. 15 national ranking. She’s second in Big 10 scoring at 21.9 points a game and also averages 5.43 assists and 2.83 steals.
– Komara’s scoring average is only 12.7 points a game, but she averages 4.38 assists, leads the league with 4.04 steals and is a superb defender and an inspirational leader.
“Komara is fascinating,” Michigan State coach Joanne McAllie said. “If she isn’t the MVP, she’s the most valuable leader and toughest competitor on the first-place team.”
Coaches Brenda Oldfield of Minnesota and Rene Portland of Penn State made the cases for their high-scoring guards.
“Lindsay Whalen and Kelly Mazzante have very comparable stats,” Oldfield said. “But there are so many things Lindsay can do: rebound, pass, steal. She understands the team picture, so she includes her teammates.”
Portland maintained that Mazzante has operated within a team concept that sets double and triple screens to help provide Mazzante her average of 20 shots per game.
“She’s been great not only within our conference but nationally,” Portland said.
Other players frequently mentioned included Purdue sophomore forward Shereka Wright, Illinois sophomore center Iveta Marcauskaite, Wisconsin senior guard Tamara Moore and senior forward Jessie Stomski and Iowa senior guard Lindsey Meder.
A panel of Big 10 coaches and officials will vote to help determine winners of Tribune’s Silver Basketball, awarded to the MVPs in men’s and women’s competition.
