Oct. 13, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. (October 13, 2009) - The Colonial Athletic Association has announced its women's basketball Silver Anniversary team, which includes 17 former CAA Players of the Year, 10 All-America selections and nine WNBA draft picks.
As part of its 25th Anniversary celebration in 2009-10, the CAA is recognizing Silver Anniversary teams in 21 championship sports. The teams are selected by a panel of current and former head coaches in the conference.
Members of the CAA Silver Anniversary team for women's basketball are:
Meredith Alexis (James Madison), Mery Andrade (Old Dominion), Kristine Austgulen (VCU), Sydney Beasley (James Madison), Lucienne Berthieu (Old Dominion), Sylvia Bragg (East Carolina), Pam Bryant (Richmond), Monique Coker (Old Dominion), Natalie Diaz (Old Dominion), Shareese Grant (Old Dominion), Tonya Hargrove (East Carolina), Alisa Harris (James Madison), Celeste Hill (Old Dominion), Quanitra Hollingsworth (VCU), Floretta Jackson (James Madison), T.J. Jordan (Old Dominion), Kyra Kaylor (William and Mary), Clarisse Machanguana (Old Dominion), Hamchetou Maiga (Old Dominion), Tiara Malcom (Delaware), Gabriela Marginean (Drexel), Ticha Penicheiro (Old Dominion), Nyree Roberts (Old Dominion), Tyresa Smith (Delaware) and Tamera Young (James Madison).
The CAA has established an outstanding reputation nationally in women's basketball since the league's inception in 1985, and the conference has produced numerous standout performers and teams. Old Dominion has been the conference's dominant program, winning an NCAA-record 17 consecutive CAA championships from 1992-2008. James Madison captured the first four CAA titles from 1986-89, and Richmond followed with back-to-back conference crowns in 1990 and 1991. Drexel won its first CAA championship in 2009.
Old Dominion provided the signature moment in CAA women's basketball when it reached the NCAA National Championship game in 1997. The Lady Monarchs also advanced to the Elite Eight in 2002 and reached the Sweet 16 five times. James Madison made four Sweet 16 appearances in a six-year period from 1986-91. The Dukes upset top-seeded Virginia in 1986 and national #1 seed Penn State in 1991.
More extensive biographies of the members of the Silver Anniversary team are included with this release. Photos and a video of the anniversary team are available at http://www.caasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8500&ATCLID=204812910
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 25TH ANNIVERSARY TEAM BULLETS
Meredith Alexis - James Madison - 2003-07 - Hanover Township, Pa.
· CAA Player of the Year and honorable mention AP All-American in 2006-07
· Holds JMU and CAA records for rebounds in a career (1,313)
· Four-time All-CAA and three-time CAA All-Tournament team honoree
Mery Andrade - Old Dominion - 1995-99 - Lisbon, Portugal
· CAA Co-Player of the Year and CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 1998-99
· Ranks fourth in CAA history with 382 career steals
· Three-time All-CAA and three-time CAA All-Defensive team selection
Kristine Austgulen - VCU - 1999-2003 - Bergen, Norway
· Received CAA Player of the Year and Academic All-America honors in 2002-03
· Ranks fourth on VCU's all-time scoring list with 1,572 points
· First VCU women's basketball player to have her jersey retired
Sydney Beasley - James Madison - 1986-88 - Oxon Hill, Md.
· Honored as the CAA women's basketball Player of the Decade in 1995
· Two-time CAA Player of the Year and CAA Tournament MVP (1986-87, 1987-88)
· Led the Dukes to a 54-8 record and two NCAA Sweet 16 appearancesLucienne Berthieu - Old Dominion - 1998-2002 - Rennes, France
· Three-time CAA Player of the Year (1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02)
· Chosen as a 3rd-team All-American by Women's Basketball Journal in 2000
· Three-time All-CAA selection and CAA Rookie of the Year in 1998-99
Sylvia Bragg - East Carolina - 1983-86 - Richmond, Va.
· First-ever CAA Player of the Year in 1985-86
· Ranks 9th ECU's career scoring list and 4th all-time in assists
· Three-time all-conference honoree (1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86)
Pam Bryant - Richmond - 1986-90 - Wyncote, Pa.
· Selected as the CAA Player of the Year in 1988-89 and 1989-90
· Ranks third on Richmond's career scoring list with 1,766 points
· Three-time All-CAA and three CAA All-Defensive team honoreeMonique Coker - Old Dominion - 2000-04 - Bronx, N.Y.
· 2001 CAA Tournament MVP who was a four-time CAA All-Tournament team selection
· Ranks 10th on the CAA career rebounds list with 951
· Two-time member of the All-CAA team
Natalie Diaz - Old Dominion - 1996-2000 - Mojave Valley, Ariz.
· Chosen as the MVP of the CAA Tournament in 1999 and 2000
· Earned first-team All-CAA and CAA All-Defensive team accolades in 1999-2000
· Ranks 8th on ODU's career steals chart with 252
Shareese Grant - Old Dominion - 2001-05 - Virginia Beach, Va.
· Selected as the CAA Tournament MVP in 2003, 2004 and 2005
· Received WBCA All-District and honorable mention All-America honors in 2004-05
· Two-time All-CAA pick who ranks 16th in career scoring (1,447 pts) at ODU
Tonya Hargrove - East Carolina - 1988-92 - Raleigh, N.C.
· Honored as the CAA Player of the Year in 1990-91
· Three-time 1st team All-CAA selection and three-time CAA All-Tournament team member
· Ranks fourth on ECU's all-time scoring list with 1,532 points
Alisa Harris - James Madison - 1984-88 - Harrisburg, Pa.
· Earned 1st team All-CAA and 4th-team All-America honors in 1988
· One of only three JMU players all-time with at least 1,400 points and 600 rebounds
· Four-year starter on JMU teams that went 104-19 and made the NCAA Sweet 16 three timesCeleste Hill - Old Dominion - 1990-94 - Covington, Ky.
· Three time CAA Player of the Year selection (1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94)
· Ranks second on the CAA's all-time scoring list (2,112 pts) and first in career field goals (841)
· Second on the CAA career rebounds list (1,124) and sixth in career steals (327)
Quanitra Hollingsworth - VCU - 2005-09 - Chesapeake, Va.
· Four-time All-CAA selection and two-time member of the CAA All-Defensive team
· Earned CAA Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America honors in 2005-06
· VCU's all-time leader in rebounds (1,114) and ranks second in career scoring (1,604 pts)
Floretta Jackson - James Madison - 1983-87 - Wyandanch, N.Y.
· Chosen as an American Women Sports Foundation All-American in 1985-86 and 1986-87
· Two-time All-CAA selection who was chosen to the CAA All-Decade team in 1995
· Ranks third on JMU's career assists (560) and steals (235) lists
T.J. Jordan - Old Dominion - 2004-08 - Portsmouth, Va.
· Two-time 1st team All-CAA selection and two-time CAA Tournament MVP (2006, 07)
· Owns CAA records for 3-pointers made in a game (10) season (101) and career (323)
· Ranks 13th on ODU's all-time scoring list with 1,525 points
Kyra Kaylor - William & Mary - 2003-08 - Pittsburgh, Pa.
· Chosen as the CAA Player of the Year in 2005-06
· Four-time All-CAA selection, including 1st team honors in her final three seasons
· William & Mary's all-time leader in scoring (1,873 pts) and rebounding (1,124)Clarisse Machanguana - Old Dominion - 1994-97 - Maputo, Mozambique
· Two-time Kodak and Associated Press All-American (1995-96, 1996-97)
· CAA Player of the Year in 1994-95 and two-time CAA Tournament MVP
· Ranks fifth on CAA's career scoring list (1,813 pts) and first in career FG% (61.4%)
Hamchetou Maiga - Old Dominion - 1998-2002 - Bamako, Mali
· Honored as the CAA Player of the Year in 2000-01
· Three-time 1st team All-CAA, CAA All-Defensive team and CAA All-Tournament team pick
· Competed in the 2008 Olympic Games for her native country of Mali
Tiara Malcom - Delaware - 2001-05 - Wilmington, Del.
· Selected as the CAA Player of the Year in 2004-05
· Three-time All-CAA and two-time CAA All-Tournament team honoree
· Scored 1,544 career points and holds UD record with 88 career double-figure games
Gabriela Marginean - Drexel - 2006-present - Cluj-Napoca, Romania
· CAA Player of the Year and CAA Tournament MVP in 2008-09
· Three-time All-CAA selection who was the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2006-07
· Ranks fourth on the CAA's career scoring list (1,854 pts) through three seasonsTicha Penicheiro - Old Dominion - 1994-98 - Figiero da Foz, Portugal
· Received the Wade Trophy as the National Player of the Year in 1997-98
· Two-time 1st team All-American and two-time CAA Player of the Year
· CAA's all-time leader in assists (939) and steals (591)
Nyree Roberts - Old Dominion - 1994-98 - Jersey City, N.J.
· CAA Player of the Year and 2nd team AP All-American in 1997-98
· Two-time All-CAA and four-time CAA All-Tournament team selection
· Among the CAA's career top 10 in scoring (1,854 pts), rebounds (986) and blocks (214)
Tyresa Smith - Delaware - 2003-07 - Dover, Del.
· CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2005-06 and 2006-07
· Two-time 1st team All-CAA selection and All-Region honoree in 2006-07
· UD's all-time leader in steals (342) and second in career scoring (1,635 pts)
Tamera Young - James Madison - 2004-08 - Wilmington, N.C.
· CAA Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American in 2007-08
· Three-time 1st team All-CAA selection (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08)
· CAA's all-time leading scorer (2,121 pts) and third in career rebounds (1,127)