Jan. 3, 2008

BEAUMONT - The Lamar University women's basketball freshman Tamara Abalde has been nominated for "Young Player of the Year" for FIBA Europe for her efforts on the hardwood.

Abalde led Spain to a silver medal at the U18 European Championship Women in Serbia over the summer, earning All-Tournament accolades after averaging 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Abalde has made an immediate impact for the Lady Cardinals basketball team, leading the team in scoring through their first 13 games at 18.8 points per game, while pulling down 6.8 rebounds per contest. In just the sixth game of her collegiate career Abalde tied the Lamar single game scoring record when she scored 44 points against Wiley College, helping LU to a 71-47 win.

This is a very prestigious award, and you can help her get it! Please go to http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_E8,eprqVGqgDC363xm3X73.html and VOTE now!! Choose Tamara as your 1st place vote, and then choose two others for 2nd and 3rd (you must vote for all three for your vote to count).