REC CENTER — Two seniors were treated to pregame congratulations on the final regular season home game of the 2008-09 campaign. Peregrine forward LaKeisha Hurst (Dover Del.), a team player for three seasons, and team manager Sarah Belford (Lake Central), who has logged six seasons with PUC, were recognized for their years with the program.

Hurst wraps up her 3-year career at PUC as a likely candidate named as an all-conference player in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Hurst has rung up nine double-doubles in scoring and rebounding ranking her second in both categories in conference play.

In 25 games this season, Hurst’s totals include 226 rebounds, a 9.0 per game average, 341 points, a 13.6 pga, 24 steals, 16 assists and 10 blocks. She is shooting 50 percent from the field, 66 at the foul line, and is perfect from the 3-point line on her only attempt in three seasons during an 81-78 win against Indiana University Northwest last December.

At the end of her sophomore year, Hurst earned the “Most Improved Player” award for her strong second-half-of-the-season performance. She averaged nine points and six rebounds in the final 12 games that season.

In 17 games of her junior season, Hurst carried her success over from the previous year averaging 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. She led the Peregrines in rebounding on four occasions, including her only double-double of the season at Olivet Nazarene University where she scored 19 and grabbed 18 rebounds. 

Her career totals to date for 72 games include 669 points, 594 rebounds (250 offensive, 244 defensive), 69 steals, 41 blocks and 37 assists. Her career field goal percentage is 45 and free throw percentage is 66. Hurst will graduate next December with a degree in Criminal Justice.

The other senior honoree, Belford, has witnessed several changes in the women’s basketball program during her six seasons.

In her first year at PUC the women’s team was known as the Lady Lakers. One year later, the program changed its nickname to Peregrines and later dropped Lady from as part of the name. In her first four seasons she worked with former head coach Dennis Smith and his assistant Rick Sullivan. For the past two seasons, Belford has been reunited with her high school basketball coaches Tom Megyesi and assistant Keith Hauber.

During Belford’s freshman season, PUC won the CCAC finishing with a 10-2 conference record and were 25-9 overall. The team was nationally ranked at No. 17 that season.

Belford is scheduled to graduate this May with a degree in Business Management.