March 7, 2013

BEAUMONT, Texas – Shawnta Vanzant, who averaged 19.3 points per game in her only season at Lamar, was named to the Southland Conference’s All-Decade Women’s Basketball Team from the 2000s, the conference announced today.

Vanzant played for the Lady Cardinals in the 2000-01 season, earning conference Player of the Year honors. The 5-foot-6 guard from Del City, Okla., poured in 522 points in 27 games and averaged 6.3 rebounds per game as Lamar went 12-16 overall and 10-10 in the conference.

The conference named the all-decades team as part of its year-long 50th Anniversary commemoration. The 2000s all-decade team consists of eight conference players of the year, one of whom was a repeat honoree, seven conference tournament MVPs, four freshmen of the year, three newcomers of the year and two defenders of the year.

Monica Gibbs of UTSA was named Player of the Decade, while Rae Rippetoe-Blair of UTSA, who was Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 2003, 2008 and 2009, was named Coach of the Decade.

The entire All-Decades Team is listed below:

Southland Conference 2000s All-Decade Women’s Basketball Team

Player of the Decade:

Monica Gibbs, Texas-San Antonio, 2005-09

Coach of the Decade:

Rae Rippetoe-Blair, Texas-San Antonio                               

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