United Athletic Conference

Cheryl Ford Louisiana Tech

DENVER - The 2002-03 all-Western Athletic Conference teams have been named, following a vote of the WACs head coaches.

The first team has two repeat performers from last year with San Jose States Cricket Williams making her second appearance on the all-WAC first team along with Louisiana Techs Cheryl Ford. Ford also became the first player since Hawaiis Raylene Howard to win back-to back WAC Player of the Year honors. Howard earned the award during the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons.

Tulsa senior Allison Curtin, Rices Johnetta Hayes and Louisiana Techs Trina Frierson joined Ford and Williams on the first team. Curtin, a senior transfer, was first in the WAC all season in points per game averaging 23.2 ppg. Hayes was third in the league in rebounds, averaging 8.2 rpg., while Frierson was first in the WAC in field goal percentage (.513).

The all-WAC second teamers were Laura Ingham, Nevada; Amber Obaze, Louisiana Tech; Erica Smith, Louisiana Tech; Omelogo Udeze, Fresno State and Dragana Zoric, UTEP.

Boise States Jamie Hawkins earned the schools first WAC Freshman of the Year honor. It was the first WAC postseason award for the Broncos. Hawkins was among the WACs leaders in both scoring and rebounding.

Louisiana Techs Kurt Budke captured his first Coach of the Year honor, leading the Lady Techsters to a perfect 18-0 league record, the first since the 1998-99 season. Budke is in his first season at Louisiana Tech after taking over for legendary coach Leon Barmore. The Lady Techsters enter the tournament with a 24-game winning streak.

The 2003 Williams WAC Tournament will be held March 11-15, at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla. The womens tournament schedule includes two first round games on March 11, four quarterfinal games on March 12, semifinals on March 14 and the championship on March 15.

The complete WAC all-conference team and additional honors follows.


2002-03 All-WAC Teams

First Team all-WAC
Allison Curtin Tulsa G 5-11 Sr. Taylorville, Ill. (Illinois)
Cheryl Ford Louisiana Tech C 6-3 Sr. Summerfield, La. (Summerfield)
Trina Frierson La Tech F 6-2 Jr. Vicksburg, Miss. (Vicksburg)
Johnetta Hayes Rice C 6-4 Jr. Houston, Texas (Oklahoma)
Cricket Williams San Jose State G 5-7 Jr. New Orleans, La. (St. Marys Academy)

Second Team all-WAC
Laura Ingham Nevada G 5-4 Sr. Anchorage, Alaska (Ohio State)
Amber Obaze La Tech G 5-9 Jr. Dallas, Texas (Bryan Adams)
Erica Smith La Tech G 5-10 So. Wheatley, Ark. (Palestine-Wheatley)
Omelogo Udeze Fresno St. F 6-1 Sr. Los Angeles, Calif. (Harvard-Westlake)
Dragana Zoric UTEP G/F 5-10 Sr. Sarajevo, Bosnia (Independence CC)

Player of the Year: Cheryl Ford, LaTech
Coach of the Year: Kurt Budke, La Tech
Freshman of the Year: Jamie Hawkins, Boise St.

2002-03 All-Defensive Team
Laura Ingham Nevada G 5-4 Jr. Anchorage, Alaska (Ohio State)
Kim Lawson Rice G 5-7 Sr. Missouri City, Texas (Madison)
Amber Obaze La Tech G 5-9 Jr. Dallas, Texas (Bryan Adams)
Tiffany Simon Fresno St. G 5-10 Sr. Detroit, Mich. (Bishop Borgess)
Erica Smith La Tech G 5-10 So. Wheatley, Ark. (Palestine-Wheatley)


2002-03 All-Newcomer Team
Allison Curtin Tulsa G 5-11 Sr. Taylorville, Ill. (Illinois)
Sarah Davis SMU G 6-2 Fr. Houston, Texas (Cypress Falls)
Kia Dowell UTEP G 5-6 Jr. Darwin, Australia (Fort Scott CC)
Jamie Hawkins Boise St. F 6-1 Fr. Bieber, Calif. (Big Valley)
Vaida Zagurskyte UTEP G 5-10 Sr. Kaunas, Lithuania (Seward County CC)