All-Time Newcomer of the Year Award Winners | Male Finalists | Follow @IlliniAthletics

Five women have been selected as finalists for the 2017 Fighting Illini Female Newcomer of the Year, presented annually by the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA). The group was honored at the annual OSKEE Awards April 24 at State Farm Center. The winner will be voted on by Fighting Illini head coaches and a DIA awards committee and announced on Wednesday, June 14. 

Female Newcomer of the Year Finalists

Freshman Alicia Barker – Soccer
Freshman Brandi Beasley – Basketball
Freshman Tristyn Nowlin – Golf
Freshman Jacqueline Quade – Volleyball
Sophomore Kiana Sherlund – Softball

Finalist Bios

ALICIA BARKER | Soccer • Started all 19 matches at defender as a true freshman • Played in 1,745 of a possible 1,779 minutes on the field for the Illini, playing a season-high 110 minutes in two games • Helped anchor an Illini defense that recorded six shutouts on the season • Posted five shots on the year, putting three on goal • Carded a season-best three shots at Maryland

BRANDI BEASLEY | Basketball • Big Ten All-Freshman Team • Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection • Second on the Illini in scoring with an average of 13.6 points, with season total of 423 points ranking as the second-most ever by an Illini freshman • Played the second-most minutes of any Big Ten player as a rookie, logging 36.2 minutes per game • Dished out 120 assists on the year, the second-highest total by an Illini freshman

TRISTYN NOWLIN | Golf • All-Big Ten selection, one of just four freshmen in school history to earn all-conference honors • Second on the team with a 74.60 stroke average on the year • Equaled the third-best 54-hole score in program history with a 5-under-par 211 to place third at the Westbrook Invitational • Recorded three top-10 individual finishes, with six top-25 performances • Helped lead the Illini to NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2012

JACQUELINE QUADE | Volleyball • Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection played in all 31 matches at outside hitter • Second on the Illini with 304 kills, recording double-digit kills in 16 matches • Set a career-high with 18 kills in victory at Maryland (Oct. 2) • Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Sept. 26) • Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team

KIANA SHERLUND | Softball • Transfer from the University of North Carolina • Started all but one game on the season, seeing action in both right field and centerfield • Led the Illini and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 71 hits • Hit .343 on the season with 14 doubles, 22 RBIs, 39 runs, 93 total bases, and team-high 17 stolen bases • Helped lead the Fighting Illini to an NCAA Regional Final appearance