Jessica Dickson Named To Wade Trophy Watch List

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USF's Jessica Dickson Named To Wade Trophy Watch List

Tampa, FL (August 21, 2006) – University of South Florida women’s basketball standout Jessica Dickson (Ocala, FL/Vanguard HS) has been named to the 25-player watch list for the Wade Trophy, which is presented to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s NCAA Division I player of the year.

Dickson, who is one of just three players to make the list from the BIG EAST Conference – along with Matee Ajavon (Rutgers) and Jazz Covington (Louisville), averaged 22 points per game last season for the Bulls along with 5.8 rebounds per game. During the 2005-06 season Dickson led the nation in scoring for 11 of 17 weeks before being overcome by eventual National Player of the Year Seimone Augustus of LSU. Dickson would finish third in scoring at the conclusion of the season – behind Augustus and Sophia Young of Baylor – which was the highest that a BIG EAST women’s basketball player had ever finished nationally in scoring.

In addition, Dickson averaged 21.8 points per game in conference outings.

For her efforts in 2005-06, Dickson was a first team All-BIG EAST Conference selection and was tabbed an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press and Women’s Basketball Magazine.

She will enter the 2006-07 campaign with 1,755 career points and is just 66 points from becoming the all-time leading scorer in school history.

The Bulls are coming off the most memorable season in the program’s history. USF finished with a 19-12 record and a 9-7 slate in their first year in the BIG EAST Conference. In addition the Bulls advanced to their first-ever NCAA Tournament earning a No. 9 seed in the Bridgeport Region. They faced the No. 8 seed USC in the first round in Norfolk, VA, losing to the Women of Troy 67-65.

USF opens the 2006-07 regular season on Nov. 10 when it faces Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 7 p.m. Last year the Panthers turned in a 22-9 record losing to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament first round.

[smazza]

what an honor