Kemp Named All-Big 12 First Team, Hallman Honorable Mention

March 3, 2006

DALLAS — University of Kansas senior Crystal Kemp was named All-Big 12 First Team by the conference office on Friday. KU senior Erica Hallman was named Honorable Mention. The all-conference teams, voted on by the league’s coaches, were comprised of 10 first team members, six second team members and 12 honorable mention selections.

Kemp and Hallman earned their honors after both being named Honorable Mention last year during their junior seasons. Kemp becomes the third player in KU history to win first team honors. Former Jayhawk Tamecka Dixon was named first team in the inaugural Big 12 season in 1997, while Lynn Pride was a three-time first team selection from 1998-2000.

“It is a great honor,” Kemp said. “It’s something that I’ll be able to look back on and be proud of. But right now, I’m focused on getting ready for our next game and doing everything I can to help this team get to postseason play.”

A forward from Topeka, Kan., Kemp led the Jayhawks in scoring and rebounding the entire season and averages 19.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Entering the Big 12 Championship, she has accumulated 1,592 career points and 798 career boards. She ranks among the KU all-time top 10 in points, rebounds, field goals made, field goals attempted, field goal percentage, free throws made, free throws attempted, free throw percentage, blocked shots and minutes played. A durable player, she has played in all 112 games in her four-year career, starting 108 of those contests. This season, she has played 40 minutes or more 11 times. She ranks among the Big 12 leaders in scoring and rebounding and was twice named Big 12 Player of the Week. A very consistent player, she has scored in double figures in every game and notched 10 double-doubles. Also a great student majoring in Speech Language and Hearing, Kemp was named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 7 and Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

Hallman, a native of Covington, Ky., has had her best season as a Jayhawk as a senior with 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. In fact, she is the only player in the league to average over 14 points, four assists and four rebounds per game. One of the most prolific 3-point shooters in KU history, Hallman ranks second all-time at KU with 176 career threes made. She also ranks second with 475 attempted and fifth with an accuracy of 36.7 percent. Also a great passer, she checks in third on the KU career list with 443 career assists. This year, Hallman has scored in double figures 19 times and set a new career-high in scoring with 29 points against Missouri.

“I’m extremely pleased for Crystal and Erica because both are very deserving of those awards,” head coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “When Crystal was named preseason honorable mention I said that I thought she understood how hard she would have to work to earn that same respect at the end of the season and it’s great to see her effort pay off. Those two seniors have been the key to our season and both should be very proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish.”

The complete list of Big 12 postseason honors is below.

Coach of the Year: Sherri Coale, Oklahoma
Player of the Year: Sophia Young, Baylor
Newcomer of the Year: Whitney Pegram, Oklahoma State
Freshman of the Year: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Defensive Player of the Year: (tie) Abiola Wabara, Baylor and Courtney Paris, Oklahoma.

All-Big 12 First Team (alphabetical by school)
Player, School, Pos, Ht, Cl, Hometown
Sophia Young, Baylor, F, 6-1, Sr., St. Vincent, The Grenadines
Lyndsey Medders, Iowa State, G, 5-9, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.
Crystal Kemp, Kansas, F, 6-2, Sr., Topeka, Kan.
LaToya Bond, Missouri, G, 5-7, Sr., Urbana, Ill.
Kiera Hardy, Nebraska, G, 5-6, Jr., Kansas City, Mo.
Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, C, 6-4, Fr., Piedmont, Calif.
Tiffany Jackson, Texas, F, 6-3, Jr., Dallas, Texas
Morenike Atunrase, Texas A&M, G/F, 5-10, So., Shreveport, La.
LaToya Davis, Texas Tech, F/C, 6-1, Sr., Houston, Texas
Erin Grant, Texas Tech, G, 5-8, Sr., Arlington, Texas

All-Big 12 Second Team (alphabetical by school)
Player, School, Pos, Ht, Cl, Hometown
Angela Tisdale, Baylor, G, 5-5, So., Austin, Texas
Jackie McFarland, Colorado, F, 6-3, So., Derby, Kan.
Claire Coggins, Kansas State, G/F, 5-11, Jr., Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Christelle N’Garsanet, Missouri, C, 6-3, Sr., Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Africa
Leah Rush, Oklahoma, F, 6-1, Jr., Amarillo, Texas
Nina Norman, Texas, G, 5-8, Sr., Houston, Texas
(tie in voting)

Honorable Mention (alphabetical by school)
Chameka Scott and Abiola Wabara (Baylor), Brittany Wilkins (Iowa State), Erica Hallman (Kansas), Carlynn Savant (Missouri), Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska), Britney Brown, Erin Higgins and Chelsi Whelch (Oklahoma), Whitney Pegram (Oklahoma State), A’Quonesia Franklin (Texas A&M), Alesha Robertson (Texas Tech)

Big 12 All-Defensive Team (alphabetical by school)
Player, School, Pos, Ht, Cl, Hometown
Abiola Wabara, Baylor, F, 6-0, Jr., Parma, Italy
Sophia Young, Baylor, F, 6-1, Sr., St. Vincent, The Grenadines
EeTisha Riddle, Missouri, F, 6-3, Jr., O’Fallon, Ill.
LaToya Bond, Missouri, G, 5-7, Sr., Urbana, Ill.
Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, C, 6-4, Fr., Piedmont, Calif.

Big 12 All-Rookie Team (alphabetical by school)
Player, School, Pos, Ht, Cl, Hometown
Marlies Gipson, Kansas State F 6-0 Fr. McPherson, Kan.
Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska F 6-2 Fr. Eagle River, Alaska
Courtney Paris, Oklahoma C 6-4 Fr. Piedmont, Calif.
Takia Starks, Texas A&M G 5-8 Fr. Houston, Texas
Erika Arriaran, Texas G 5-10 Fr. Norco, Calif.