March 8, 2004
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - UNLV's RanDee Henry was named the Mountain West women's basketball Newcomer of the Year, while teammate Sherry McCracklin was selected as Co-Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced today. Both were also named to the MWC All-Conference First Team, while teammate Sheena Moore, the third member of the UNLV "Big Three" was a Second Team selection. This is the third time in conference history, and second in three years for UNLV that a team has placed two players on the all-conference first team.
Henry, a 6-1 junior transfer forward from Detroit, Mich., took the league by surprise this season, as she led the conference in scoring the entire season and ended the regular season with an 18.5 ppg average (ranked 28th in the nation), while also finishing second in the MWC in rebounding at 8.2 rpg, and was tied for second in the MWC with 11 double-doubles. In conference games she led the league in both scoring and rebounding (17.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg), and earned two conference player of the week honors.
McCracklin, a 6-2 junior forward from Hazel Crest, Ill., turned in an outstanding defensive season for the Lady Rebels, as she finished the regular season leading the MWC in rebounding (10.2 rpg, ranked 23rd in the nation), blocked shots (1.56 bpg), and was third in steals (2.04 spg). She was fifth in scoring as well (14.1 ppg), and second in field goal percentage at 52.1%. A two-time MWC player of the week honoree, McCracklin recorded a conference-high 12 double-doubles for the year.
Moore, a 5-7 sophomore guard from Lansing, Mich., was UNLV's top threat from outside, and finished third in the MWC in scoring at 16.0 points per game, and averaged 16.6 ppg in league play. She also ranks in the top 10 in the league in both assists (3.14 apg) and steals (1.67 spg), and was seventh in three-point percentage (36.6%).
Utah sophomore forward Kim Smith was named MWC Player of the Year for the second straight year, after finishing fourth in the MWC in scoring (15.4 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (7.5 rpg) while leading the Utes to a share of the MWC regular season title. Sharing the Defensive Player of the Year award with McCracklin was Brenda Pickup of Wyoming, who led the conference in steals with 2.63 per game. Wyoming's Joe Legerski was selected as Coach of the Year after taking a team that lost three starters to a fifth-place finish in the MWC.
Joining Henry and McCracklin on the all-conference first team was Smith, Lindsey Arndt of New Mexico, and Ashley Elliott of Wyoming. On the second team, along with Moore, was Julie Sullivan (BYU), Vanessa Espinoza (Colorado State), Mandi Moore (New Mexico), and Shona Thorburn (Utah). The third team consisted of Melissa Dennett and Lindsay Thomas from Colorado State, Melissa Forest from New Mexico, Kelsy Stireman from Utah, and Pickup.
The Lady Rebels finished the regular season at 21-6, and won a school record 10 MWC games to finish third in the conference (10-4). UNLV, the third seed in the 2004 MWC Tournament, will open against sixth-seed BYU in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at 8:30 pm (MST) at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.
2003-04 Mountain West Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams
First TeamRanDee Henry, UNLVSherry McCracklin, UNLVKim Smith, UtahAshley Elliott, WyomingLindsey Arndt, New Mexico
Second TeamSheena Moore, UNLVJulie Sullivan, BYUVanessa Espinoza, Colorado StateMandi Moore, New MexicoShona Thorburn, Utah
Third TeamLindsay Thomas, Colorado StateMelissa Dennett, Colorado StateMelissa Forest, New MexicoKelsy Stireman, UtahBrenda Pickup, Wyoming
Coach of the YearJoe Legerski, Wyoming
Player of the YearKim Smith, Utah
Newcomer of the YearRanDee Henry, UNLV
Co-Defensive Players of the YearSherry McCracklin, UNLV/Brenda Pickup, Wyoming
