BRACKETS ANNOUNCED FOR 2006 PARADISE JAM WOMEN’S FIELD

Eight Division I women’s basketball teams will take their game to the Caribbean to compete in the seventh annual U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam basketball tournament at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas from Nov. 21-26, 2006. Rutgers, Arizona State, Western Kentucky, Penn State, Marquette, Xavier, Auburn, and Western Michigan will travel to St. Thomas to carry on the tradition of intense early season competition. Of the 2006 Paradise Jam field, five of the eight participants bring post-season momentum from last season, with two earning NCAA tournament berths and three others coming from the WNIT. To attest to the reputation of the Paradise Jam tournament, four of the eight 2006 participants are returning to the Paradise Jam. Two of the returnees, Rutgers (2004) and Arizona State (2001), will attempt to defend division championships earned during their previous visits.

The Paradise Jam consists of two separate 4-team tournaments. One is a Multiple Team Event (MTE) three-game round robin tournament called the "St. John" division and the other a two-game Counting event called the "St. Thomas" division. An MTE tournament counts as only two games against a team’s annual maximum of 29 games, despite playing three games at the tournament. Counting tournaments carry no restrictions as all games played count against a team’s schedule.

The 2006 St. Thomas Division boasts two NCAA participants from the 2005-06 season, Rutgers and Arizona State. Rounding out the St. Thomas division are Western Kentucky and Penn State. The St. Thomas division opens play at 7:00pm on November 24th as Arizona State takes on Western Kentucky. Penn State will face “Sweet Sixteen” participant Rutgers at 9:30pm. The winners will compete for the St. Thomas division crown on Nov. 25th at 9:30pm with the 3rd place game at 7:00 pm. All games are Atlantic Standard Time and will be played at the U.V.I. Sports and Fitness Center, the Caribbean’s premier basketball facility.

Rutgers returns to the Virgin Islands with post-season momentum after their second straight Big East championship and second straight year advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. Rutgers posted a 27-5 record, culminating their season with a 3rd-round NCAA tournament loss to 2005 Paradise Jam champion Tennessee. Guided by head coach Vivian Stringer, Rutgers will be young again this year with no seniors and five freshmen. Stringer will look to All- American candidates Matee Ajavon, Essence Carson and Kia Vaughn. Ajavon, a 5-8 junior guard (12.6 ppg) led the Scarlet Knights in assists at 4.5 per game and steals at 2.6 per game. Ajavon, the Big East Freshman of the year in the 2004-05 season, was named to the All-Big East first team last year. Junior Forward Essence Carson (8.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg) was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and was a second team All-Big East selection. Kia Vaughn (6.3ppg), a 6-4 sophomore center, led the Scarlet Knights in rebounding at 7 a game and in blocks per game (2.1). Rutgers’ incoming freshman class was ranked the second best in the nation and includes top-25 prospect Dee Dee Jernigan. In 2004, Rutgers earned the “St. John” division championship at the Paradise Jam where then-freshman Ajavon was named to the all-tournament team.

Arizona State is the second Paradise Jam champion returning to defend their title, claiming the St. John division championship in 2001. The Sun Devils team will return 10 players, including four of their five starters from the 2005-06 squad which tied the school record for wins with 25 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. The Sun Devils posted a 25-7 season and entered the NCAA tournament as a #4 seed, where they suffered a 2nd round loss to Utah. ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne will look to her four returning starters to be a big part of what should another record season. Returning seniors Emily Westerberg (10.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg) a 6-0 forward who started all 32 games for the Sun Devils; Jill Noe, a 5-10 guard who averaged 7.8 points per game; and Aubree Johnson (6.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg), a 6-2 forward will be relied upon for early season Sun Devil success. Returning junior Reagan Pariseau (4.9 ppg, 2.7 apg) started all 32 games last season.

Western Kentucky enters the Paradise Jam after claiming their fourth straight Sun Belt East Division championship with a 12-2 league record. The Lady Toppers finished the 2005-06 season with a 27-7 record and advanced to the semifinals of the WNIT for the first time in school history, falling by one point in overtime to eventual tournament champion Kansas State. Head coach Mary Taylor Cowles was named the league's Coach of the Year for the second time in four seasons. Junior Crystal Kelly (20.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg), who was named to the all-Sun Belt Conference (SBC) first team, will be the WKU player to watch in the islands. Kelly became the fastest player in school history to reach 1,000 career points, accomplishing the feat in just 51 games. As she enters her junior year, she has already scored 1,266 points and will look to build on that record at the Paradise Jam. Fellow returning starters junior forward Charlotte Marshall (7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and senior guard Tiffany Zaragoza (6.9 ppg) will also be looked to for early success in St. Thomas.

Penn State (13-16), rounds out the St. Thomas division, returning to the Virgin Islands after a six year absence. The Lady Lions competed in the inaugural 2000 Paradise Jam. Eight players return for the 2006-2007 season including all five starters. Junior forward Amanda Brown returns as the most heralded Lady Lion. earning second team All-Big Ten honors and started all 29 games last year. Brown is one of only two Big Ten players to be in the top ten in scoring (15.6 ppg), rebounds (7.3 rpg), field goal percentage (.593) and blocks (1.9 bpg). Another returning starter who will play a big role early on is 6-1 junior guard Kam Gissendanner. Gissendanner, who received All-Big Ten honorable mention honors, averaged 14.6 points per game. Big Ten All-Freshman team member Brianne O’Rourke (7.8 ppg, 5.14 apg) led the conference in assists. The Lady Lions are coached by head coach Rene Portland (591-220), who returns for her 27th year at the helm of Penn State women’s basketball.

The “St. John” division is a three-game round robin tournament that includes two Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) participants in Marquette and Xavier. Auburn and Western Michigan complete this field. The tournament opens on Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd at 4:00pm with Western Michigan playing Marquette, followed by the 6:30pm game where Auburn will battle Xavier. Games continue on November 24th with Marquette and Auburn at 2:00pm and Xavier and Western Michigan at 4:30pm. The remaining match ups will conclude on November 25th at 2:00pm (Western Michigan v. Auburn) and 4:30pm (Marquette v. Xavier).

Marquette is coming off a successful season in which the blue and gold compiled a 22-11 overall record, and a 9-7 mark in its first season in Big East Conference play. The 22 wins ties the school record for most in a single-season, capped by an impressive run through the Women's National Invitation Tournament and into the championship game. The Golden Eagles dropped a 77-65 decision at Kansas State on March 31 in the WNIT title contest. Coach Terri Mitchell returns four starters from last year’s successful squad. 6-2 senior forward Christina Quaye (13.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 6-1 senior forward Jasmine McCullough (9.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and 5-9 sophomore guard Krystal Ellis (10.7ppg) will all be looked to for leadership in preseason action.

Xavier finished the 2005-2006 campaign with a 21-9 record and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. Although coach Kevin McGuff loses All-American and all time leading scorer Tara Boothe, Xavier boasts one of the most experienced backcourts in the league with the return of seniors Suntana Granderson (14.9 ppg), point guard Miranda Green (9.4 ppg, 3.4 apg), and Michelle Miller (9.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg). An All-Atlantic 10 first team selection, Granderson scored over 20 points on seven occasions. Joining last year’s squad will be a 10th ranked recruiting class of six freshmen, including Amber Harris who was rated the No. 1 overall recruit by “Blue Star Index.” The Xavier women are looking for a third consecutive 20-win season.

Auburn arrives in paradise slightly more experienced than last seasons 14-15 finish, as they return three freshman starters from last season. DeWanna Bonner and KeKe Carrier who were named to the SEC All-Freshman team and Whitney Boddie (7.5 ppg) was the team's starting point guard most of the season. Bonner and Carrier were both named to the U20 national trails roster, as the duo started for the Tigers as rookies. Bonner, led the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game and Carrier, a 6-7 center was third in scoring for Auburn with 9.1 points per game, 5.0 rebounds and 42 blocks on the year. The Tigers will add five newcomers including two junior college transfers to the 2006-07 roster. 3rd year head Coach Nell Fortner leads the Auburn Tigers.

Western Michigan is the other repeat team to the Virgin Islands from the St. John division, participating in the 2001 Paradise Jam. Guided by head coach Ron Stewart, the Broncos hope to start the season off well and improve on the 14-14 finish from last year. Stewart will look to returning starters Carrie Moore and Lindsey Brown. Moore a 5-9 senior guard earned First Team All-MAC accolades for the second time in her career (2005, 2006) and she was also tabbed pre-season All-MAC for the 2006-07 season. Moore was second on the team in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game and grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game. Fellow senior power forward Lindsey Brown (6-2) added 14.7 points per game and 7.3 rebounds last season.

Since its inception seven years ago, the Paradise Jam has always been one of the most competitive early season collegiate basketball tournaments in the nation. Tournament champions have never failed to earn berths to the NCAA post-season tournament, with several teams making it as far as the Final Four. The 2005 field boasted the most impressive collection of women’s teams that the Paradise Jam had ever seen. Minnesota dominated the St.John division while Tennessee took home the St. Thomas division crown over Maryland. Three of the four teams from the 2005 St. John division advanced at least as far as the Sweet 16. The most notable accomplishment was the Maryland Terrapins winning the 2006 NCAA National Championship, becoming the first Paradise Jam participant to claim the title of national champion in the same season. Ironically Maryland did not earn the Paradise Jam championship, narrowly losing to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the game’s final seconds.