FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Information Director
(540) 365-4306
 
December 4, 2002
 
 
Toland Named Dixie Player of the Week
Sophomore Averages 22 Points in Pair of Wins
 
Ferrum, Va. – Ferrum College sophomore player Tara Toland (North, S.C./North) has been named Dixie Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for her part in a pair of Panther wins last week.
 
Toland led the Panthers to a 73-67 win over Piedmont College Nov. 30 in the first round of the Methodist College/InnKeeper Turkey Shootout.  She had a game-high 22 points against Piedmont and added 10 assists, seven rebounds and six steals.  Toland also had 22 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and four steals in a 74-57 win over Lynchburg College in the second round of the tournament.  For her performance, Toland was named to the All-Tournament team and was the Most Valuable Player.
 
Also nominated for this week's Dixie Women's Basketball Player of the Week award were Tia Moore of Christopher Newport University and Latasha Watlington or Methodist.

Through Ferrum's first five games this season, Toland leads the team in scoring (19.6 ppg), assists (5.4 apg), steals (4.4 spg), and three-point field goal percentage (8-21, .381).  Her numbers this season are listed below.  As a freshman last season, Toland averaged 9.7 points and 3.6 assists for the Panthers, which finished 16-10 overall and advanced as far as the semifinals of the 2002 Dixie Conference Tournament.

Toland's 2002-03 Per-Game Statistics
Nov. 22 vs. Roanoke:  22 points, 6 steals (box)
Nov. 23 vs. Lynchburg:  17 points, 5 steals (box)
Nov. 30 vs. Piedmont: 22 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 6 steals (box)
Dec. 1 vs. Lynchburg:  22 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals (box)
Dec. 3 vs. Mary Baldwin: 15 points, 5 assists (box)
 
The Ferrum women are 4-1 overall, winners of their last four games, and have yet to play a home game this season.  The Panthers will be back in action Thursday, Dec. 12 when they host Emory & Henry College in a non-conference contest.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Swartz Gymnasium.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum sports information office at (540) 365-4306.
 
 
# # #