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 | Class:
Senior
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| Hometown:
Lithonia, Ga.
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| High School:
George Walton Academy
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| Height:
5-6
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| Position:
OF
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| B/T:
L/L
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2008 Highlights
• Started in every game for the Orange and Blue her sophomore season
• Named second-team All-Big Ten for the second straight year
• Ranked third on the team in on-base percentage (.384) and in hits (55) and doubles (11)
• Recorded a career high four hits against Indiana, while driving in three and scoring three runs
2007 Highlights
• Named Second Team All-Big Ten after batting .421 in conference play
• Started all 55 games -- 50 in right field and five in center
• On-base percentage at .429, the sixth best in a single-season in Illinois history
• Batted .571 with a double, a triple and two RBI at the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational and .462 with two home runs and seven RBI at the Capital Classic to raise her average from .188 to .339 in just two weeks
• Had a career-high four RBI vs. Idahao State
• Scored two runs in the home opener against UIC
• Had a 2-run double against BYU on March 24 to give the Illini a 4-1 lead
• Her infield single was key in a three-run rally in the seventh-inning vs. Michigan that saw the Illini overcome a 3-0 deficit to win 5-3. Was 3-for-4 in that game.
• Was 3-for-4 in comeback win over Penn State on April 22.
• Hit her second triple of the season in the 5-0 win against Bradley
• In the last 11 Big Ten games, she was 13 for 28 (.464) with seven runs scored and no errors in conference play
High School
Garnered All-State, All-Region and All-County accolades her freshman through senior years at George Walton Academy, playing for head coach Marlene Snow • Named Most Valuable Player in her junior year and was named Gatorade Player of the Year • Maintained a batting average of .500 or higher each season and was named Best Offensive Player accordingly each year • Member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society • Batted .525 with five doubles and two triples for a .635 on-base percentage during the regular season and a .429 batting average during the post-season in her senior season.
Personal
Born Sept. 28, 1987 • Daughter of Jim and Gwen Howell • Considering a major in speech or mass communications.
Getting to Know Hope...
Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter
What do you do to relax: Write e-mails to family and friends
Favorite Illinois Softball memory: My first hit, sweeping the Orange and Blue World Series
Favorite pro sports team: Atlanta Braves
Favorite restaurant on campus: Coldstone
Favorite TV Show: Sex & the City
Favorite Movies: Anchorman, Benchwarmers, Eight Crazy Nights
How I started playing softball: My brother signed up for tee-ball, so automatically I had to do it, too. Turned out, I was good.
What I've learned from Coach Sullivan: The art of the high five. It is actually possible to go 100 percent all of the time. Use mental toughness in all you do
Favorite musical artist: Gavin DeGraw
Dream Job: DJ for a huge station
If you could go to dinner with three people, who would they be: My sister Heather, Derek Jeter and Batman
Career Statistics
Year AVG. GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HB SO OB% SAC SB-SBA PO A E FLD%
2007 .308 55-55 133 34 41 4 2 2 18 55 .414 25 4 30 .429 3 5-7 81 2 2 .976
2008 .313 62-62 176 25 55 11 2 3 22 79 .449 19 2 25 .384 2 5-7 71 4 3 .962
Total .311 117-117 309 59 96 15 4 5 40 134 .434 44 6 55 .401 5 10-14 152 6 5 .969
