DENTON (3/5/03) -- North Texas junior forward Kim Blanton was named to the first team All-Sun Belt Conference team announced today. Blanton scored 13 points and grabbed 5.6 rebounds this season, both career-highs.

She turned in four double-doubles this season including a 17-point, 17-rebound performance against New Orleans. The 17 rebounds in a game were the most by a Lady Eagles player since 1995.

Blanton also scored 20 or more points on four different occasions this season and reached double figures in 18 of 26 North Texas games this season. This is the first all-conference selection for Blanton, and she is the fourth Lady Eagles player in history to be named to the Sun Belt Conference first team.





2002-03 All-Sun Belt Conference
First Team

Kim Blanton, Jr., P, North Texas
Cormisha Cotton, Sr., P, Florida International
Sinnamonn Garrett, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Patrice Holmes, So., G, Middle Tennessee
Leslie Logsdon, Jr., G, Western Kentucky
Jolie McKiernan, Sr., F, Arkansas State
Shala Reese, Sr., F, Western Kentucky
Taneisha Russell, Sr., F, South Alabama
Mandy Shafer, Sr., G., Florida International
Monique Taylor, Jr., G, New Orleans

Honorable Mention
Ashley Atkinson, Sr., G, Denver
Kristina Covington, Sr., G, Western Kentucky
Casie Lowman, Sr., G, Arkansas State
Lora Ruddy, Sr., F, New Orleans
Mari Sanchez, Sr., G, New Mexico State

Player of the Year: Shala Resse, Sr., F, Western Kentucky

Defensive Player of the Year: Patrice Holmes, So., G, Middle Tennessee

Freshman of the Year: Tiffany Porter-Talbert, Fr., G, Western Kentucky

Newcomer of the Year: Monique Taylor, Jr., G, New Orleans

Coach of the Year: Mary Taylor-Cowles, Western Kentucky