March 10, 2003
LAS VEGAS - Three Lady Rebels were named to the 2003 All-Mountain West Conference Women's Basketball Team by a vote of the league's head coaches Monday.
Senior All-America candidate Constance Jinks (Chicago, Ill.) was named a first team selection along with BYU's Erin Thorn, Utah's Kim Smith, New Mexico's Jordan Adams and Colorado State's Ashley Augspurger. Smith, a freshman, became the first student-athlete in conference history to capture MWC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors.
Jinks, a three-time all-conference honoree, has led the MWC in scoring all season long and is averaging 20.7 points per game. She currently ranks third on the UNLV all-time scoring list with 1,791 career points. Jinks has scored in double figures in all but one game this season and set the MWC single-game scoring record with 40 points twice this year (at Cal Poly and vs. Air Force). She currently ranks 15th nationally in scoring.
Senior Julia Gray (Riverside, Calif.) was named MWC Defensive Player of the Year and was also an honorable mention selection. Gray has earned a reputation as one of the best defenders in the conference. She led the league in steals (3.37 spg) this season and holds the MWC single season senior record for steals (91) and the conference games only steals record (52). Gray currently ranks 13th nationally in steals per game.
Sophomore Sherry McCracklin (Hazel Crest, Ill.) rounded out the UNLV selections receiving third team honors. She led the conference in offensive rebounds during the regular season (104) and ranks second in rebounding (8.5 rpg). McCracklin registered seven double-doubles this year, six of which were made in conference play.
2003 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEARKim Smith, UtahNEWCOMER OF THE YEARKim Smith, UtahDEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARJulia Gray, UNLVCOACH OF THE YEARElaine Elliott, UtahFIRST TEAM*Erin Thorn, BYU, Sr., GKim Smith, Utah, Fr., F*Jordan Adams, New Mexico, Sr., C*Constance Jinks, UNLV, Sr., G*Ashley Augspurger, Colorado State, Sr., FSECOND TEAM*Carrie Bacon, Wyoming, Sr., FChelsea Greer, New Mexico, Sr., F/GShona Thorburn, Utah, So., GDanielle Cheesman, BYU, So., FShannon Strecker, Colorado State, Sr., CTHIRD TEAM*Jamey Cox, San Diego State, Sr., G*Mandi Moore, New Mexico, So., GSherry McCracklin, UNLV, So., F/CAnn McColl, Wyoming, Sr., CKatie Borton, Colorado State, Sr., FHONORABLE MENTIONShawna Neff, Air Force< Jr., FJoy Jenkins, Colorado State, Jr., F/CAshlee Dunlap, San Diego State, Fr., FJulia Gray, UNLV, Sr., GCarley Marshall, Utah, Jr., F/CAshley Elliott, Wyoming, So., G
*repeat selections
