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

February 5, 2007


Norton Named Rookie of the Week

FERRUM, Va.  --  For the second time this season, Ferrum College freshman guard Ashley Norton (Martinsville, Va./Magna Vista) has been named USA South Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week.  Norton first  earned the award a week ago, on January 30th.

Norton averaged 16 points last week, helping the Panthers go 2-0 against USA South competition.  She opened the week with 12 points and a pair of assists in a 76-57 win at home over Averett University.  She then scored 20 points and dished out seven assists in an 81-73 road win over Methodist University Feb. 3.  In that game, Norton went 6-8 from behind the three-point line.  For the week, Norton shot 65% from the floor, including an incredible 71% from behind the arc.

Ferrum is now 15-5 overall and leads the USA South with an 8-1 league record.  The Panthers travel to Greensboro tonight to face the Pride as part of a USA South doubleheader with the Ferrum men.  Greensboro is the two-time defending USA South champion, having earned berths into the 2005 and 2006 NCAA Division III playoffs by winning the league's post-season tournament the past two years.

Ferrum played Greensboro 65-61 Jan. 16 at home.  The Panthers trailed by as many as 18 points in the first half of that game before mounting a charge early in the second half to take the lead and hold on for the win.

The Ferrum-Greensboro women's game is set to tip-off at 5:30 p.m., with the men to follow at 7:30 p.m.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum sports information office at (540) 365-4306.

# # #