March 24, 2004
FORT WORTH, Texas
Junior Sandora Irvin from the No. 20-ranked TCU women's basketball team was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press. She is the first Lady Frog in school history to earn postseason All-America praise. TCU reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth year in a row this season before exiting the event with an 85-71 loss to Georgia Monday night in Philadelphia, Pa. The Lady Frogs' 25-7 record this season tied the 2000-01 squad for the most wins in school history and set a new mark for winning percentage (.781).
"It's a terrific honor for Sandora and TCU," coach Jeff Mittie said. "She was one of the best players in the country at both ends of the floor during the second half of the season."
Irvin established new single-season school records this year for points (504), rebounds (366), and field goals made (195). Her 16.8 points per game was the third-highest in TCU history and her 12.2 rebounds per game was the best ever by a Lady Frog. She ended the season with 15 consecutive double-doubles. Her 117 blocked shots this season was also the second-most in one season, 11 less than what she recorded last year.
Irvin became TCU's all-time leading rebounder in the men's or women's programs at different points this season. She broke Janice Dziuk's 778 Jan. 25 against Cincinnati when she pulled down 15. The men's record of 966 by Reggie Smith was surpassed in the Lady Frogs' NCAA First Round match-up with Temple.
Already the all-time leading rebounder (980) and shot blocker (330) for TCU women's basketball, Irvin figures to become the Lady Frogs' top scorer next season. She has 1,235 points for her career, which is 67 away from tying Dziuk's record 1,302 set from 1986-1990. Irvin is one of only seven Lady Frogs to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau and one of three to score at least 1,200.
Next season, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native will have a chance to break the NCAA's career blocks record of 428, which is held by Genia Miller (1987-1991) from Cal State Fullerton. Her current 330 is tied for 12th all-time with DeMya Walker (1995-1999) of Virginia. Irvin's career average of 3.51 blocks per game is the fifth-best in NCAA history.
Irvin was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight year this season. She also nabbed a spot on the C-USA First Team. Irvin was the best rebounder and shot blocker in the league and heading into the NCAA Tournament, she ranked third nationally in both categories.
Other members of C-USA that earned recognition from the Associated Press were Houston's Chandi Jones, Louisville's Sara Nord and DePaul's Khara Smith. Jones was a second-team member and Nord and Smith were tabbed honorable mention.
