HR0890 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0890 LRB097 20902 KXB 67753 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Illinois Wesleyan Women's basketball team on winning the NCAA Division III National Championship; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Wesleyan beat third-ranked George Fox University, 57-48, on March 17, 2012 at Hope College; the Titans, who had more losses entering the Final Four than the other 3 teams combined, won the tournament through their defense and the scoring of tournament MVP Olivia Lett; and

WHEREAS, Both teams shot 32% as Illinois Wesleyan beat George Fox in the national tournament for the second consecutive time; the Titans won a national quarterfinal matchup last season to reach their first Final Four; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Wesleyan (28-5) overcame a 48-43 deficit with 3 minutes, 46 seconds remaining; the Titans took the lead on a Melissa Gardner 3-pointer with 1:06 to go; Melissa set a Titans' single-season record for 3-pointers this year; and

WHEREAS, Olivia Lett, who netted a game-high 22 points, scored the final 6 points by making all of her free-throw attempts; and

WHEREAS, The Coach of the Titans is Mia Smith; the Assistant Coaches are Andrea Travelstead, Melanie Ward, Chad Cusac, and Tasha Gaston-Bell; the Titans are Brittany Hasselbring, Kasey Reaber, Melissa Gardner, Lexi Baltes, Colleen McMahon, Abbey White, Whitney Scurlock, Taylor Reaber, Michelle Bilek, Olivia Lett, Katy Seibring, Amy Burton, Karen Solari, Annie Brown, and Shelby Jackson; and

WHEREAS, Head Coach Mia Smith was named the 2012 Schelde North America/Women's DIII News "Coach of the Year"; she led the Titans to a 28-5 overall record and the 2012 Division III national championship; in her 14th season at Illinois Wesleyan, she has an overall record of 282-108 and is 145-51 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (.725) with 6 league championships and 7 NCAA Division III appearances; and

WHEREAS, Her 2011 team finished fourth in the nation; she has coached 5 All-Americans, including 2012 D3hoops.com "Player of the Year" Olivia Lett, 35 all-conference selections and 4 CCIW "Most Outstanding Players"; she has been the CCIW "Coach of the Year" 4 times, regional coach of the year 3 times, and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Division III "Coach of the Year" 3 times; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Illinois Weslyan University Titans and Coach Mia Smith and wish them continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Titans and to Coach Mia Smith as a symbol of our respect and esteem.