For Immediate Release

Date January 24, 2008

For More Information: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114/ (901) 619-1899

LADY SALUQIS CRACK TOP FIVE IN NJCAA POLL

The Southwest women’s basketball team continued its rise to the top of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 Poll, moving up one spot to number five this week. The Lady Saluqis are undefeated with a 14-0 overall record with ten games remaining in the regular season.

It’s the best start ever for Head Coach Andrea Martre, now in her 12th season with the Lady Saluqis. Martre has 192 victories and has won over 60 percent of her games in her coaching career, including last season’s 26-2 team that won the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association Western Division championship.

The Lady Saluqis are led by sophomore guard Candace Rucker, who leads the team and ranks sixth nationally with a 21.9 scoring average and also ranks third in the NJCAA with 4.8 steals per game. The second leading scorer is sophomore forward Starkitsha Luellen, who averages a double-double with averages of 12.8 points and a conference-leading 10.6 rebounds per game. As a team, Southwest averages 77.3 points per game, ranking 30th nationally and allows 60.8 points per game, ranking 47th.

The Southwest women return to the court at 2 p.m. this Saturday, January 26 against conference rival Jackson State Community College at the Verties Sails Gymnasium.