Basketball
Perhaps the best all-around player ever at Carleton, Renée Willette was a three-time All-MIAC pick and undisputed leader of the teams that began the most magical run in Carleton basketball history. She led the Knights to back-to-back MIAC Playoff titles in 2001 and 2002, earning the program’s first two NCAA Tournament berths.
As a senior, Willette was one of ten finalists for the Jostens Trophy, awarded annually to the top NCAA Division III basketball player. She was the first player in school history to record at least 1,000 points, 400 rebounds, and 200 assists.
Willette finished her career with 1,296 points, which ranks fourth in Carleton history. Her name is found numerous times in the Carleton record book as she currently ranks fourth with 296 career assists, eighth with 142 steals, and tenth with 43 blocked shots.
As a rookie, Willette quickly established herself as a dominant player averaging 14.8 points per game, earning a spot on both the All-MIAC team and All-MIAC First-Year Team. For her efforts, she was named Division III West Region Freshman of the Year. During 2001 and 2002, she again led the team in scoring, averaging more than 12 points per game on her way to two more All-MIAC selections.
Together with Bridget Seegers ’01, Lisa Cawley ’01, and Karissa Kramer ’03, Willette served as captain for teams that could be considered among the most balanced and successful in school history. Over Willette’s four-year career at Carleton, the team steadily increased in wins, from 13 during her first year to a then-school-record 24 wins during her senior year.
A recipient of the Pat Lamb Award in 2002, Willette also was named to the second-team Academic All-District women’s basketball team that year.