July 22, 2005

For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114 / Kimberly Stark (901) 333-4023/ (901) 489-4771

LADY SALUQIS BASKETBALL TEAM SIGNS ELEVEN
Release written by Keith Gentry

Southwest women’s basketball coach Andrea Martre has announced the signing of eleven student-athletes to letters of intent to play for the Lady Saluqis next season. Players signed include Gina High of Bartlett High School, Kim Brady of East High School, Michelle Malone of Millington Central High School, Rachel Northam and Tamakia Wooten of Cordova High School, Ikisha Carr and Jasmine Massey of Booker T. Washington High School, Jeana Griffin of Aberdeen (MS) High School, and Latonya Walker of Amite (LA) High School. Also signed are Ashley Shields, who is transferring to Southwest from Northwest Mississippi Community College, and Brittany Smith, who is transferring from the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

High, a 5’8” guard, led Bartlett to a 28-4 record, the District 14AAA championship, and the Region 7AAA semifinals her senior year. She averaged 9.8 points per game as a senior and also led Bartlett in assists. iHigh was named All-District 14AAA in both basketball and softball, and will also play softball at Southwest.

Malone, a 5’11” post player, averaged 11.5 points per game as a senior at Millington in 2003-2004. She was named second team All-District 14AAA and received Millington’s team award for Most Inspirational Player.

Wooten, a 5’5” guard, was named to The Commercial Appeal’s Best of the Preps team her senior season after leading Cordova to a 17-13 record and a third place finish in District 14AAA. She averaged 12.5 points per game as a senior and scored a high game of 26 points against Germantown.

Massey, a 5’7” guard, was a three-time All-District 16AA and Best of the Preps performer at BTW. She averaged 15.6 points per game her senior season and led her team with 94 three-point field goals made. She also was among team leaders with 55 steals and shot 70 percent from the free throw line.

Shields, a 5’9” guard, returns to the court after sitting out the past two seasons at the University of Memphis and Northwest Mississippi Community College. Shields was a four-time all-district and all-metro player in high school, and finished her career as Shelby Metro’s second all-time leading scorer. As a senior, Shields averaged over 35 points per game and was named all-state and Class AAA Miss Basketball in the state of Tennessee.

Smith, a 6’0” guard/forward, also sat out last season as a red-shirt at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. As a senior at Hamilton High, Smith averaged 16.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per game and was named all-district, all-metro, and honorable mention all-state.