April 22, 2000

DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke women's basketball team held their annual banquet at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club on Friday evening with junior Georgia Schweitzer and senior Peppi Browne taking top honors.

Schweitzer, a native of Columbus, Ohio was named 'Offensive Player of the Year' after leading Duke with a 15.6 points per game average and starting all 34 games. She became the 14th 1,000-point scorer at Duke with a 14-point performance against N.C. State on February 17. Schweitzer was named ACC Player of the Year, All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Tournament First Team, Duke Classic MVP, SunSplash Shootout All-Tournament team, and selected ACC Player of the Week two different times during the year.

It marks the second time a Duke women's basketball player has been selected ACC Player of the Year. Schweitzer was also selected one of 48 finalists for the Kodak Division I All-American team.

Browne (Silver Spring, Md.) was selected 'Defensive Player of the Year' after playing in Duke's first 20 games of the season before tearing her ACL and missing the final 14 games. For the season she was selected to the ACC All-Defensive Team, Women's Basketball Journal Defensive All-America Team, All-ACC First Team, SunSplash Shootout Most Valuable Player, and the Duke Classic All-Tournament team.

In just the 20 games she tallied 60 steals , which ranks tied for sixth on Duke's single season charts. Browne became the third Duke player to record over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 200 steals during the season.

Junior Rochelle Parent (Akron, Ohio) was selected 'Best Rebounder' on the season totaling 217 rebounds on the season with an average of 6.8. She led the team with 85 offensive boards and six games with 10 or more rebounds. Parent also led Duke with 20 charges taken on the season, while being named to the ACC All-Defensive Team.

Parent also received another award on the night notching the 'Practice Player of the Year' award. Each and every practice the managers keep stats of every player and for the season Parent led the team.

Freshman LaNedra Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) received the 'Most Improved Player' award on the night. Brown appeared in 18 games on the season, but didn't see extensive action till after the Christmas Holidays. Brown went from being the last player off the bench to the first for a few games during the heart of the ACC slate. She finished the season with a 2.3 points per game average and 1.4 rebounds.

Missy West (Malone, N.Y.) received the 'Heart and Hustle Award' after coming back from knee injuries to play a key role on the 1999-2000 Duke squad. She has been known as the emotional leader for Duke and it really showed in her junior season. Yes, you heard it right her junior season, as she has decided to come back and play one more year with the Blue Devils.

West saw action in 31 games on the season, but really shined in the postseason. In six postseason games she averaged 13.5 points a game and was named to the ACC All-Tournament Second Team.

Freshman Sheana Mosch (Clearfield, Pa.) received the 'Free Throw Percentage' award after the team with a .812 percentage on the season. In her freshman year she saw action in all 34 games, while starting 18. She averaged 9.0 points and 3.3 rebounds a contest.

Senior student assistant coach Jennifer Forte (Raleigh, N.C.) received the final award on the night as she took home the 'Academic Award.' Forte's career at Duke was cut short due to injuries and was able to help out during her senior season as assistant coach. Going into her final semester this spring she had recorded a 2.99 grade point average after posting a whopping 3.6 GPA in the fall.