For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 17, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

GRAVEL NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-INDEPENDENT

EDINBURG, TX-Senior guard Alex Gravel (Chicoutimi, Quebec/Vanier HS) of The University of Texas-Pan American's women's basketball team has been honored.

Gravel has been named first team All-Independent for the 2002-2003 season. The winners were chosen by head coaches and sports information directors from the independent schools.

Gravel averaged 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from three-point range. She finished second on the team with 38 steals and third with 53 assists. Scoring in double figures in 20 of her 25 games this season, Gravel hit at least one three-pointer in all but two games. She scored 20 and 23 points in the final games of the season to lead the Lady Broncs to their first back-to-back, season ending victories ever. Gravel now holds Texas-Pan American career records for scoring, three-point field goals, and three-point field goal attempts. She earned Dean's List 2nd honors, made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, and is a member of the Bronc Pride 3.0 Club.

"It's a great accomplishment for her, and it kind of caps her career here," said UTPA Associate Head Coach Tracy Anderson, who served as Interim Head Coach during the 2002-2003 season. "For her to be our all-time leading scorer is icing on the cake. Her award is very well-deserved. Everybody knew that she was our go-to player, and she still led us in scoring. Alex epitomizes a Division I student-athlete. She's very competitive and committed. I'm proud of her, and I'm happy for her."

2002-2003 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-INDEPENDENT AWARDS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lindsay Boyett (Birmingham Southern)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mandie Vinck (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Maggie Bruening (IPFW)

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Sheena Carpenter (Morris Brown)

CO-COACH OF THE YEAR: Jodi Kest (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi); Janine Hoffman (Birmingham Southern)

ALL INDEPENDENT FIRST TEAM:

Lindsay Boyett (Birmingham Southern)

Alex Gravel (UT-Pan American)

Alexis Pettway (Centenary)

Kristin Rogers (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)

Mandie Vinck (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)

ALL INDEPENDENT SECOND TEAM:

Terra Andrews (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)

Courtney Boynton (Lipscomb)

Sheena Carpenter (Morris Brown)

Julie Danieles (Centenary)

Amy Gearlds (IPFW)

WBB-55-03 041703