Feb. 18, 2007

An emotional Roni Whitman accepted the Whitlock Heart Award for Northeastern Junior College women's basketball.

Andi Whitlock starred for the Plainswomen in before her premature death in a tragic car accident in 2004. Every year the program presents the award to the player on the team that most exemplifies the way Whitlock played the game. The honor is based more on the game's intangibles than statistics.

Whitman proved to be a worthy recipient throughout the course of the 2006-2007 season. She is the seventh recipient of the award since 2004. That year, four of Whitlock's teammates received the award.

"For me to get this award was really special because my high school coach always talked about Andi," Whitman said. "They were good friends so my coach wanted us to play like her and have her dedication. When I was growing up I saw her play in high school, and I watched her play in college a few times. It's really an honor to accept this award and to be recognized as someone who plays like her."

A native of Peetz, Whitman averaged just less than 10 points and four rebounds a game. She dished out four assists per contest while playing relentless defense (41 steals). NJC fans frequently witnessed Whitman going to the floor for a loose ball or making an extra pass to find a hot-shooting teammate.