| Wood receives top honors
SWAC releases Preseason All-SWAC Women's Basketball TeamOctober 21, 2000 JACKSON, Miss. -- Last season, Alcorn State University's star forward Cherea Wood played much of the year in the shadows of eventual player of the year Nakesha Jewell of Grambling State University. Nonetheless, Wood concluded the season as one of the most decorated players in the league, winning all-conference honors, being tabbed the MVP of the SWAC tournament and reaping All-America honors. Entering the 2000-01 season, Wood is predicted to be in a class of her own. The 5-11 senior from Webb, Miss. not only hold a spot on the 2000-01 preseason all-conference team, but she's the coaches' choice for player of the year as well. A year ago, Wood ranked second in the SWAC in scoring with an average of 18.2 points a game. She also ranked second in the conference in rebounds (9.2 pg), seventh in steals (2.48 pg), third in field goal percentage (47.9%) and first in free throw percentage (76.5%). Wood scored 34 points in one game and grabbed 18 rebounds in a pair of contests. "I'm happy for Wood," said ASU head coach Shirley A. Walker. "She's done so much for our program. She's an outstanding student, a great player and a remarkable person. She deserves all of the accolades she receives." Joining Wood on the preseason All-SWAC team at the forward slot is 5-11 sophomore Tremesha Colbert of Southern University. A native of Monticello, Ark., Colbert posted averages of 15.9 points (4th in the SWAC) and 8.0 rebounds (4th in the SWAC) while hitting 52.3 percent of her shot from the field (2nd in the SWAC). She made second team All- SWAC last season and was a member of the conference's all- rookie team. The preseason All-SWAC center is Tanisha Lee of Prairie View A&M University. The 6-2 sophomore from Flint, Mich. averaged 8.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocked shots and 1.4 steals in 1999-2000. Colbert was a member of the league's all- rookie team last season. One of the guards on the team is Grambling State's Shrieka Evans, who led the SWAC in scoring (18.7 ppg) and steals (3.17 pg) last year. A 5-10 sophomore from Lisbon, La., Evans made first team All-SWAC as a rookie, she made the SWAC all-rookie team and she captured SWAC freshman of the year honors. The final member of the 2000-01 preseason All-SWAC team is 5-6 guard Cherbritta Scott of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. A Dallas, Tex. senior, last season Scott ranked ninth in the SWAC in scoring (13.7 ppg), sixth in assists (3.67 pg), eighth in steals (2.46 pg) and second in three- point field goal percentage (38.5%). 2000-01 PRESEASON ALL-SWAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMForward: Cherea Wood, Alcorn State (5-11, Sr., Denver, CO) - Averages (Rankings) - Points: 18.2 pg (1st on team, 2nd in SWAC), Rebounds: 9.2 pg (1st on team, 2nd in SWAC), Steals: 2.48 pg (1st on team, 7th in SWAC), Field Goal Pct.: .479 (1st on team, 3rd in SWAC), Free Throw Pct.: .765 (1st on team, 1st in SWAC). Season Highs - Points: 34 vs. Texas Southern, Rebounds: 18 two times, Assists: 8 vs. Alabama A&M, Steals: 5 five times, Blocked Shots: 4 vs. Alabama State.Forward: Tremesha Colbert, Southern Univ. (5-11, Fr., Monticello, AR) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 15.9 pg. (1st on team, 4th in SWAC); Rebounds: 8.0 pg (2nd on team, 4th in SWAC); Field goal percentage: .523 (1st on team, 2nd in SWAC); Double-doubles: 7 (T-3rd in SWAC)Center: Tanisha Lee, Prairie View A&M (6-2, 137, So. Flint, MI) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 8.9 pg (3rd on team); Rebounds: 6.0 pg (1st on team, Blocks: 1.2 pg (1st on team, 5th in SWAC); Steals: 1.4 pg (T-4th on team). Season Highs - Points: 21 vs. Alabama A&M; Rebounds: 13 vs. Southern; Blocks: 3 vs. Grambling and Texas Southern; Steals: 5 vs. Jackson State.Guard: Shrieka Evans, Grambling State (5-10, So., Lisbon, La.) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 18.7 pg (1st on team, 1st in SWAC); Steals: 3.17 pg (1st on team, 1st in SWAC); 3- Point Field Goals Made: 4.0 pg (1st on team, 1st in SWAC, 1st in NCAA); 3-Point Field Goal Pct.: .351 (1st on team, 4th in SWAC); Assists: 3.30 pg (2nd on team, 7th in SWAC). Season Highs - Points: 32 vs. Ala. St., Steals: 7 vs. 3 opp.; 3- Pointers: 8 vs. Jackson St. & Portland.Guard: Cherbritta Scott, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (5'6, Sr., Dallas, TX) - Averages (rankings) - Points: 13.7 pg (1st on team, 9th in SWAC); Assists: 3.67 pg (1st on team, 6th in SWAC); Steals: 2.46 pg (1st on team, 8th in SWAC); Free Throw Pct: .681 (1st on team, 10th in SWAC); 3-Pt. FG Pct: .385 (1st on team, 2nd in SWAC). Season Highs - Points: 25 vs. Jackson St. and Ala. A&M; Assists: 7 vs. Philander and Ark. Bapt.Player of the Year: Cherea Wood, Alcorn State |
