Thursday, March 3, 2011

Tech’s Johnson on Wade Trophy Watch List

Adrienne Johnson has earned yet another honor in her outstanding senior season for Louisiana Tech University’s Lady Techsters.

The Franklin native has been added to the 2010-11 State Farm Wade Trophy Watch List for NCAA Division I programs.

Johnson joins Iowa State’s Kelsey Bolte as the final two additions to a prestigious list of 34 players, who are under consideration for the award that is considered as the women’s basketball equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Johnson, a 6-foot forward, is averaging nearly 22 points and 10 rebounds per game while helping lead the Techsters to the top of the Western Athletic Conference standings.

She has scored 20 or more points in 16 games, including a season-high 36 points against Utah State.

Johnson is a two-time All-WAC and WAC All-Defensive selection has been named WAC Player of the Week five times so far this season, the latest being for this week.

Johnson ranks among Louisiana Tech’s al-time leaders in scoring (1,852 points), rebounding (883), steals (179) and blocks (150).

She would be the fourth Tech player to ever win the Wade Trophy, joining Pam Kelly (1982), Janice Lawrence (1984) and Teresa Weatherspoon (1988).

The Watch list, from which the Wade Trophy recipient is chosen is composed of players selected on the basis of game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.

The State Farm Wade Trophy Committee will trim the Watch list to 12 finalists later this month and will officially announce the winner during the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four® in Indianapolis.

BRISTER PROMOTED: Learfield Sports has named Christopher Brister account executive for “LA Tech Sports Properties,” the Ruston-based entity designed to oversee all aspects of the 10-year partnership between the University and the collegiate marketer.

Brister, a Winnsboro native, moves into the position having formerly served as an intern for the property and as broadcast engineer for the Tech Sports Network.

He will working alongside General Manager Mason Ellenberger as part of the locally based staff overseeing every aspect of the Bulldogs’ and Lady Techsters’ rights, including certain television rights, radio, corporate hospitality, print sponsorships, event marketing, official athletic website advertising and venue signage.

“We’ve already been impressed with Christopher and know he will continue to do an outstanding job in this bigger capacity,” said Learfield Sports’ Vice President Eric Buchanan.

“We know he will make an immediate impact and work well with Mason.”

LA Tech Sports Properties is a property of Learfield Sports, which manages the multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate institutions and associations. The company also titles the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, oversees the marketing partnerships for the Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) and provides exclusive sports programming to more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide.

LEADS STATE TITLE WIN: Louisiana Tech women’s basketball signee Courtney Hayes ended her prep career in fine fashion recently by leading Centennial High School of Las Vegas, Nev., to the state’s Class 4A state title with a 71-65 overtime win over Liberty High.

Hayes, a 5-foot-7-inch point guard, came up big for the Bulldogs by scoring 16 points, including a pair of free throws with 30 seconds remaining in regulation that sent the game into the extra period.

With the victory, Centennial won its sixth state title in the last 10 years.

“Courtney has been telling me that this was how it was going to end,” Centennial coach Karen Weitz said. “Usually what Courtney Hayes says is the way it goes.”

With Centennial (32-1) trailing 55-50 with less than two minutes to play in regulation, Hayes made a steal and transition layup started an 8-3 run that ended regulation.

“I’m a senior, and I have to step up in these types of games, because they’re going to look for you for guidance,” Hayes said. “This was our moment. We don’t panic. This is what we practice for, the overtime games.”

Hayes was all over the floor, disrupting passes, knocking balls away and generally being a pest to Liberty (27-3).

“A lot of times we weren’t playing well together tonight,” Weitz said. “Courtney knows what I want and what I need. She just put people on her back.”

Source: http://rustonleader.com

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