March 2, 2004

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today the Buena Vista University senior forward Amy Meggers (Manilla, Iowa/I-K-M HS) has been named 2003-04 IIAC Women’s Basketball Most Valuable Player and Buena Vista head coach Janet Berry has been named 2003-04 IIAC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

Meggers, a two-time Conference MVP, has ranked among the nation’s leading scorers and rebounders throughout the season. She enters the NCAA Tournament with a 20.4 point per game scoring average and a 10.5 rebound per game average in 28 contests, ranking first and second in the Conference in the respective categories. She has shot 46.0 percent from the floor and 71.7 percent from the free throw line, ranking 12th in the IIAC in both categories. She also ranks among in the top-15 in the IIAC in defensive rebounds per game (1st, 7.54), blocked shots per game (8th, 0.82), steals per game (13th, 1.71) and assists per game (15th, 2.5). Seventeen times this season she led her team in scoring and 22 times she led her team in rebounding.

In 16 Iowa Conference games, Meggers averaged 20.8 points (2nd in the IIAC) and 11.2 rebounds (1st in IIAC) per game. She also ranked among the Conference leaders in defensive rebounds per game (1st, 8.44) field goal percentage (8th at 49.3 percent), free throw percentage (11th, 70.0 percent) and blocked shots per game (13th, 0.69).

Berry, a four-time Iowa Conference Coach of the Year, led Buena Vista to its fourth Conference title in her 12 years behind the bench. The Beavers posted a 15-1 record in Conference play and enter the NCAA Tournament with a 26-2 overall record, riding a 16-game winning streak. She enters the NCAA Tournament with a career coaching record of 188-122 (60.6 percent). Since taking over at Buena Vista prior to the 1992-93 season, no Iowa Conference school has won more Conference titles than the Beavers. In that time, Buena Vista, Simpson and Central have all won four titles.

The IIAC also announced today the Women’s Basketball All-Conference Team. The 15-member Team includes the Conference MVP, seven First Team players and seven Second Team players. All nine IIAC schools had at least one All-Conference performer led by Conference Champion Buena Vista with four. Dubuque, Simpson and Wartburg each had two players named to the All-Conference Team.

The complete 2003-04 IIAC All-Conference Women’s Basketball Team is here.

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