April 4, 2003

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech senior forward Plenette Pierson was named third team All-America by the Associated Press, while junior guard Jia Perkins was named honorable mention.

Pierson and Perkins led the Lady Raiders to a 29-6 overall record and to their first NCAA Elite Eight since 2000. Both Pierson and Perkins were both first team All-Big 12 selections by the coaches and Pierson was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team.

Pierson, a native of Kingwood, Texas, averaged 17.8 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Lady Raiders, while Perkins, a Granbury, Texas native, averaged 15.9 points per contest. Pierson finished her career ranked fifth on Tech's all-time scoring list with 1,602 points and seventh in rebounds with 787.

The first team All-America selections, which all voting occurred before the NCAA Tournament, consisted of Diana Taurasi (Connecticut), Alana Beard (Duke), LaToya Thomas (Mississippi State), Nicole Ohlde (Kansas State) and Kelly Mazzante (Penn State).

The second team All-Americans were: Chantelle Anderson (Vanderbilt), Nicole Powell (Stanford), Kara Lawson (Tennessee), Jocelyn Penn (South Carolina) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota).

Along with Pierson, Stacy Stephens (Texas), Shereka Wright (Purdue), Kendra Wecker (Kansas State) and Seimone Augustus (LSU) were all named to the third team.

Pierson will compete tonight in the WBCA All-Star Challenge in Atlanta, Ga., in conjunction with the Women's NCAA Final Four.