May 3, 2008

DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton women's basketball team had one of the best seasons in recent history in 2007-2008 in part because of a seven-member senior class. The Flyer basketball family took time to reflect back on the recently completed season before saying goodbye to its senior class on Graduation weekend Saturday during its annual end-of-year recognition.

Seniors Brittany Holterman and Nikki Oakland shared the honor of UD's Most Valuable Player. Classmate Karah Cloxton was named UD's Most Improved Player while also taking home the Team Academic Award. Senior Jen Tisza and freshman Ebony Gainey shared the R. Elaine Driedame Coaches Award.

Holterman finished her career ranked in the top five in school history in career offensive rebounds and top 15 in overall rebounding. She was also among the Atlantic 10 Conference leaders in steals as a senior while ranking second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding. Dayton's emotional leader started 32 of 34 games throughout the season and was one of six players on the squad to have appeared in at least 100 collegiate games. She started with a season-best 20 points against Northwestern and added 12 points including the game-winning baskets at San Diego.

Oakland was a Second Team All A-10 selection as well as an A-10 All-Tourney Team pick this season. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week that joined the 1,000-Point Club at Dayton during a 77-51 rout of Charlotte in the A-10 Quarterfinals. She finished her career in the Top 20 in program history for single-season points scored, rebounds, field-goal percentage and shots blocked. Oakland was one of just two players to start every game and had her best performance against Akron when she scored the first 14 points of the game for UD and had 20 before halftime en route to a career-best 32 point effort.

Cloxton was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team and also took home ESPN The Magazine Second Team All-District honors. She closed out her collegiate career with one of the best seasons of any point guard in Flyer history. Cloxton holds UD's program record for career and single-season assist-to-turnover ratio while also ranking among the top 10 in the NCAA in 2007-2008. She finished the regular season ranked second in the A-10 in assist-to-turnover ratio and third in overall assists. Cloxton also had the ability to score on her own when needed as she was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw stripe in a one-point win at UW-Milwaukee.

Tisza overcame two separate knee injuries throughout her career to appear in nine games this season. After missing the entire 2006-2007 season due to injury, she had two points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in Dayton's first victory of the year against Western Michigan. Her best game of the season came at Loyola-Chicago when she tallied seven points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of action.

Gainey saw an unfortunate turn of events end her career before it started this season at UD. While preparing for the season, she was found to have a congenital heart condition that would no longer allow her to play competitive basketball. Gainey remained as a member of the team by assisting the coaching staff during practices and games. She also started a "hustle" award that was given to one player at the conclusion of each game.

Dayton made the third largest improvement in the nation and finished with a modern school-record 25 victories to earn a berth in the WNIT in 2007-2008. The Flyers were tied for fourth in the Atlantic 10 standings and advanced to the A-10 Semifinals for only the second time ever under the direction of 2007-2008 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Jim Jabir. UD earned its first ever votes in the AP Top 25 Poll and won 16 consecutive games at one point, which was the longest winning streak in school history.