Former Scarlet Knights Begin WNBA Season on Saturday
May 14 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Several former Rutgers women's basketball standouts kick off the WNBA's 12th season this weekend. The Scarlet Knights have six former players on squads in the league, including a pair of rookies.
|
PONDEXTER (NBA Photos) |
Pondexter averaged 22 points, three rebounds and nearly six assists per game in her second all-star season. Phoenix opens the season on Saturday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. against the Los Angeles Sparks - with former RU assistant Marianne Stanley on the bench - in a nationally-televised game to be aired on ABC. Pondexter will make a trip back east when the Mercury face the New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden on June 22 at 4 p.m.
|
SUTTON-BROWN (NBA Photos) |
Sutton-Brown, a seven-year pro, has a lifetime 9.9 points per game average in league play and was selected to her first all-star game in 2007. She averaged 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds a season ago.
|
NEWTON (NBA Photos) |
Newton then spent 2006 with the expansion Chicago Sky before returning to the west coast in 2007. The former Knight (2001-05) is averaging 5.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in her professional career, also contributing 5.0 points during playoff action.
Michelle Campbell and her Detroit Shock teammates take on several former RU players in 2008, including Matee Ajavon and the Houston Comets on Saturday for the 3:30 p.m. start to the season.
Campbell, who was one of just two players to who signed a training-camp contract to earn a spot on the team, averaged 8.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a Scarlet Knight. She was voted the BIG EAST's Most Improved Player in 2005.
Campbell will meet former collegiate teammate Pondexter on June 14. The game marks a rematch of the 2007 WNBA finals. Campbell and Pondexter played together from 2002 through 2006, propelling the Scarlet Knights to an Elite 8 and Sweet 16 appearance during their tenure.
Ajavon, beginning her rookie season in the WNBA, begins official play on Saturday. The rookie is fresh off a 26 point explosion -which included a 41-foot three-pointer - in Houston's 72-66 exhibition win over Washington on Wednesday. Ajavon was the fifth overall selection in what was touted as the league's most talented pool of draftees.
|
AJAVON |
|
CARSON |
She finished third on the team in scoring as a senior, with 10.8 points per game and tied for second in rebounding with 5.2 per game. She closed out her career 17th on the all-time scoring list and 12th on the rebounding chart. Carson also became the all-time leader in games played this season, entering 133 contests as a Scarlet Knight.
Note: Campbell was waived by the Shock on Thursday, May 15.
