FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
(540) 365-4306

January 8, 2007


Wright Named Rookie of the Week
Freshman Forward Earns Second Honor This Season

FERRUM, Va.  --  Ferrum College freshman forward Tonya Wright (Bland, Va./Bland County) has been named USA South Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week for her part in two games last week.

Wright helped the Panthers to a 1-1 mark over the holiday break by averaging 12 points on 10-of-16 (62.5%) shooting, and 2.5 rebounds per game.

In a 53-51 win at Agnes Scott College on Jan. 1, Wright scored five points with one rebound and one blocked shot.  In a 92-84 loss at Oglethorpe University on Jan. 2, Wright scored 19 points while adding four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one blocked shot.  Also nominated for Rookie of the Week honors this week was LeAnne Horne of Peace College.

Peace's Christy Freeman has been named Women's Basketball Player of the Week, while Corey Lewis of Christopher Newport University is the Men's Basketball Player of the Week and North Carolina Wesleyan College's Trey Drake is the Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week.

This is the second Rookie of the Week award for Wright, who first earned the honor November 30th.  Through 11 games this season, Wright is averaging 11.1 points and five rebounds per game.  She is shooting 55% from the floor and nearly 73% from the line.

Ferrum (7-4) returns to action Jan. 10, opening USA South play with a doubleheader at Averett University.  The women's game begins at 5:30 p.m. in Danville, Virginia, followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

The Panthers then host Methodist University Jan. 13 in another USA South doubleheader.  The women tip off at 2 p.m., followed by the men at 4 p.m.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum sports information office at (540) 365-4306.

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