[Students] Texas A&M University-Commerce Senior All-American Britney Jordan Selected in the 2009 WNBA Draft

[Daniel Kambel]

Give it to Jordan.
 
That was the game plan Texas A&M University-Commerce women¹s basketball
coach Denny Downing used throughout Britney Jordan¹s three-year career with
the Lions.
 
The plan paid dividends for both A&M-Commerce and Jordan, as the senior
became the first women's basketball player in program history to be selected
into the WNBA as the Los Angeles Sparks picked her 35th overall on Thursday
in the league draft.
 
³It's an amazing feeling,² said Jordan. ³I had a great chapter at
A&M-Commerce. This is the beginning of a new chapter.²
 
³I don't know if I have enough words to say,² said Downing. ³Obviously I'm
so happy for Britney and the commitment she made to the program.²
 
Jordan is just the second player in Lone Star Conference history to be
selected in the WNBA Draft after Southeastern Oklahoma State¹s Crystal
Robinson was chosen by the New York Liberty in 1999.
 
Family, friends and coaches gathered to support Jordan at a draft watch
party, and the room burst into cheers and hugs as the All-American was
selected in the third round. I truly can¹t say enough about the support I¹ve
had at A&M-Commerce, said Jordan.
 
³It was just a neat deal,² said Downing.
 
The Peoria, Ill., native was on a mission from the opening tip of her senior
year with a 30-point effort against Southern Arkansas and followed with 17
more games of at least 30 points.
 
She went on to pour in a career-high 53 points against Abilene Christian on
Jan. 3 and posted three games in the 40s on her way to averaging 31.3 points
per game, which is a conference and program record.
 
Jordan accumulated 909 points in 2008-09, which is another LSC and
A&M-Commerce mark, and totaled 2,105 points during her tenure with the
Lions.
 
During the season, she was tabbed LSC North Division Player of the week on
five occasions and named the Women¹s Basketball Coaches Association Division
II Player of the Month in January.
 
Prior to the conference tournament, Jordan garnered LSC North Division
Player of the Year honors as well as a selection onto the LSC North Division
First Team for a third-straight season.
 
Jordan was also named a Daktronics Division II Women¹s Basketball First-Team
All-American and a 2009 Division II State Farm Coaches_ Honorable Mention
All-American. She is the only player in A&M-Commerce women's basketball
history to earn first-team all-american honors.
 
She led A&M-Commerce to an 18-11 overall record that featured an LSC
tournament first round victory over Abilene Christian in which Jordan dished
to forward Nola Taylor for the game-winning layup with 3.5 seconds
remaining.
 
The play was just an example of what Jordan is capable of as she closed the
year averaging 6.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
 
When the season concluded, her resume featured 21 program records and four
conference marks.
 
³I think one of the things that made a difference is her ability to score as
a guard,² said Downing. ³I think what¹s really exciting is who took her
we¹re talking about one of the premier teams in the WNBA.²
 
The Sparks have won two WNBA Championships and feature a roster of all-star
caliber players, including Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson.
 
And while Jordan will be entering the league soon, she will take care of her
academics before her departure.
 
³Not only did I get drafted, but I will complete my degree in four years,²
said Jordan.
 
The WNBA, which began with its inaugural season in 1997, is comprised of 13
teams from around the United States. Each team plays 34 games with the
regular season spanning from June to September.
 
³Two of the most supportive, outside of the coaching staff, are my dad and
my loved ones and I can only thank them,² said Jordan.
---
Photo by Brent Lyday
Caption (from left to right): Texas A&M University-Commerce Assistant
Women's Basketball Coach Latoya Howell, Britney Jordan and Texas A&M
University-Commerce Head Coach Denny Downing celebrating her selection into
the WNBA as the 35th overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.

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