March 15, 2009

Lexington, KY – Kentucky women’s basketball signee Adia Mathies was named the Most Valuable Player of the Houchens Industries Girls’ Sweet Sixteen championship Saturday in Bowling Green, Ky., after leading Iroquois High School to its first state tournament title.

Mathies scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists in the 55-47 overtime win against top-ranked Elizabethtown in the championship game. She charted a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Lady Raiders’ 52-43 semifinal win over Casey County and had a team-high 14 points, six rebounds and six assists vs. Montgomery County in the quarterfinals.

“We are so excited for Adia,” Mitchell said. “I know how hard she has worked to win the state championship. The great thing about her is the state championship means more to her than the MVP but she is certainly deserving of the MVP honors.”

The 5-9 senior, who also was named the Gatorade Kentucky Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year and the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Sixth Region Player of the Year, averaged 17.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 3.8 assists and 1.9 blocks per game while leading the Lady Raiders to an impressive 33-1 overall record this year.

She is ranked as the 13th-best shooting guard in the country and 65th overall player, according to ESPN HoopGurlz.com. She has been a varsity player since the sixth grade and has tallied over 2,800 career points while starting at guard seven consecutive seasons.

Mathies, considered the top candidate for Kentucky’s Miss Basketball honor, chose Kentucky over Louisville and Florida.