Oct. 4, 2006

DeKALB, Ill. - For the second straight season, Northern Illinois guard Stephanie Raymond has been named to the women's basketball preseason All-Mid-American Conference team as voted by members of the MAC News Media Association (MNMA).

Raymond, a second-team All-MAC selection at the conclusion of last season, averaged 16.4 points and 4.4 assists per game a year ago. She ranked fifth in the league in scoring and in assists and was fourth in three-point percentage with a .363 mark (53-of-146). As a junior, Raymond also led NIU in steals (58) and minutes (34.9 per game). The Rockford, Ill. (Lutheran) product was twice named the MAC West Player of the Week in 2005-06.

A three-year starter, Raymond is hitting 36.0 percent of her three-point attempts for her career and is 17th on the Huskies' career scoring list with 1,133 points. She led NIU to a 12-17 mark in Owens' first season.

The preseason All-MAC team, which was split into East and West divisions, included Ball State's Julie DeMuth, Patrice McKinney of Eastern Michigan, Toledo's Danielle Bishop and Carrie Moore of Western Michigan joining Raymond on the west side while the east team was dominated by Bowling Green who placed Ali Mann, Liz Honegger and Kate Achter on the unit along with Heather Turner of Buffalo and Ohio's Rachel Frederick.

The Huskies open the 2006-07 season Nov. 6, 2006 with an exhibition game versus St. Xavier and will play their first regular season contest on Nov. 11 versus Illinois State in the NIU Convocation Center. Northern Illinois also will play host to IUPUI, Illinois, Chicago State and Western Illinois in DeKalb during non-conference play.

Season tickets for the 2006-07 NIU women's basketball team are on sale now through the Huskie Athletics Ticket Office in the NIU Convocation Center. Tickets can be purchased by calling 815-752-6800.

-- NIU --