Senate Resolution 2

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY "LADY TIGERS" BASKETBALL TEAM AND COACH DENISE TAYLOR FOR BACK-TO-BACK SWAC CO-CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WHEREAS, two must be Jackson State University Lady Tigers' number. After compiling a 23-7 overall and a 15-3 conference record, Head Coach Denise Taylor has a second winning season at JSU to add to her coaching accomplishments. The last time the Lady Tigers had two back-to-back 20-plus win seasons was in the early 1980s; and

WHEREAS, the team also was named SWAC Co-Champions and Coach Taylor received SWAC Co-Coach of the Year honors, two feats for the program that were achieved for the second straight year. The Lady Tigers entered this year's campaign with a team who had not played 40 minutes of ball together. They had to depend on a quick point guard to head up the backcourt and an intimating shot blocker to dominate the frontcourt; and

WHEREAS, Latesha Lee and Amie Williams, the only two well-seasoned players returning, provided the Lady Tigers with much-needed experience. To complete its power team, JSU also had to depend on the talents of guards Shante Stanford and Dasieka Hawthorne and forward Shelita Burns; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Tigers, considered the premiere team in SWAC this season, led all conference schools in scoring defense (53.7 pg), scoring margin (+5.2), field goal percentage defense (.339), rebounding offense (43.3 pg), rebounding margin (+7.1), blocked shots (5.6 pg), assists (15.4 pg), assist/turnover ratio (.94) and defensive rebounding (28.2 pg); and

WHEREAS, the team roster is as follows:

NUMBER PLAYER POSITION

01 Latoya Anderson Forward

03 Shianeka Freeman Guard

12 Latesha Lee Guard

13 Janaina Pantalaeo Forward

14 Porshia Ferguson Guard

21 Caypande Eliasin Forward

23 Dasieka Hawthorne Guard

24 Shante Stanford Forward/Guard

25 Aisha Scott Guard

32 Shelita Burns Guard

33 Amie Williams Center

35 Lindsey Dukes Forward

42 Aliah Calbert Guard

51 Dawn Brown Forward

54 Octavia Gadson Forward/Center; and

WHEREAS, Lee and Williams received post-season honors by being named to the 2004 All-SWAC Team. Lee was a second-team selection and Williams made the first-team and was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. Williams was also featured in the 2004 issue of SLAM magazine, a national basketball publication; and

WHEREAS, this past spring, the Lady Tigers received a call from the WNIT selection committee that they were one of 16 teams selected to play in the pre-season showcase. JSU was the second historically black university invited to participate in the tournament. Grambling State University was the first HBCU and team from SWAC to represent in the preseason WNIT; and

WHEREAS, two might be a magic number for the Lady Tigers this season, but three could be even more magical. The team will be looking to three-peat as conference champions with a veteran squad of three top returnees; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the accomplishments of this talented group of student athletes who have brought honor to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Jackson State University "Lady Tigers" Basketball Team and Coach Denise Taylor for earning back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference Co-Championships, and for their outstanding 2004 season, and extend to them the best wishes of the Senate on their future athletic and academic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Denise Taylor and be made available to the President of Jackson State University and the Capitol Press Corps.