April 25, 2000

LEXINGTON, Kty. – Senior Shantia Owens was picked 53rd overall in the fourth roundof the WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury today before being traded tothe 2000 expansion Miami Sol franchise for a fourth round draft pick in2001.

Owens, a 6-4 center from Newark, N.J., was the Wildcats’starting center from 1998-00 after transferring from Trinity ValleyCommunity College in Athens, Texas. She averaged 8.8 points and 7.0rebounds per game in two years at Kentucky, leading the Cats in reboundsper game and blocks per game both seasons.

In her senior season, Owens averaged 9.6 points per game and ledthe Cats’ in rebounding, averaging 7.6 rebounds per game. She rankedseventh overall in the Southeastern Conference in rebounding and secondoverall in blocks with 43. Owens, who helped lead Kentucky to itssecond straight winning season, is the first Wildcat to be drafted inthe WNBA since its inception in 1997.

“I’m just so excited,” Owens said. “I can’t believe this isreally happening. I’m just going to go down there and work as hard as Ican to make the team and represent Kentucky well. Miami is a new teamand they are doing a lot of great things down there. I’m just proud fora chance to be part of the WNBA.”

Four other Wildcats were not selected in the team of 64, buthave been invited to various WNBA tryouts. Senior guard Erica Jackson(Lexington, Ky.) will tryout with the Miami Sol on May 3 while seniorguards Tiffany Wait (Hot Springs, Ark.) and Natalie Martinez(Albuquerque, N.M.) will tryout with the Orlando Miracle on April 29.Former Wildcat Jaye Barnes (1997-99) will attend a tryout for theSeattle Storm later this month.