Oct. 2, 2000
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Although Western Kentucky University does not begin practice for almost two weeks, Lady Topper forward ShaRae Mansfield (Louisville, Ky./Manual HS) has already picked up her first award of the 2000-01 season. The 6-foot-2 senior was tabbed as a preseason All-American in the college basketball preview edition of Street & Smith's, which is now on newsstands nationwide. Mansfield is the first Lady Topper ever to earn preseason All-America honors from the magazine, and she is the only Sun Belt Conference player to appear on this year's 10-member team (see below).
"ShaRae Mansfield is the best player you've never heard of, but the 6-2 senior forward is no stranger to WNBA scouts," the magazine states. "The (Lady Toppers') typically tough preseason schedule ... will give Mansfield a chance to strut her stuff outside the Sun Belt Conference."
A unanimous all-conference choice last season, Mansfield led the Sun Belt in scoring (18.5 ppg), rebounding (10.6 rpg) and field goal percentage (55.6%), and was one of only four players in the nation to appear in the final NCAA statistical rankings in all three categories. She was a third-team All-America selection by the Women's Basketball News Service and an honorable mention All-America pick by Basketball Times. She also ranked second in the nation with 22 double-doubles last year.
In addition, Western Kentucky was recognized by Street & Smith's, which designated the Lady Toppers as one of "The Best of the Rest" in the South region. WKU has seven letterwinners and three starters returning from last season's 22-10 team which finished second in the Sun Belt and reached the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time in school history.
The Lady Toppers will begin their 2000-01 season Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. (CST) with an exhibition game against Freestyle Express at E.A. Diddle Arena. Western opens the regular season Friday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. against defending West Coast Conference champion Pepperdine at the Hawaiian Regent Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Street & Smith's 2000-01 Preseason All-America Team: Svetlana Abrosimova, Connecticut, Sue Bird, Connecticut, Tamika Catchings, Tennessee, Katie Douglas, Purdue, Marie Ferdinand, LSU, Schuye LaRue, Virginia, SHARAE MANSFIELD, WESTERN KENTUCKY, Kelly Miller, Georgia, Jackie Stiles, Southwest Missouri State, LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State.
