RUSTON - Louisiana Tech senior guard Erica Taylor experienced quite a story book senior season and on Saturday afternoon she wrote another chapter by being selected in the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics.

Taylor, who married unbeaten middleweight boxer Jermain Taylor in the summer of 2003 following her sophomore season, was taken with the seventh pick of the second round (19th overall) by a Mystics team that finished just out of the playoffs last year at 17-17.

The Wheatley, Ark., native was considered a lock for a first round pick before missing half of her senior season while giving birth to daughter Nia Jay Taylor on Dec. 15. Taylor returned to the court in mid-January and played the final 16 games of the season, averaging 11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game despite not ever reaching her old form.

Mystics general manager Linda Hargrove said the team took that into consideration when making the decision to select Taylor in Saturday's draft.

"We thought given the circumstances of recently having a baby that she was not in the best game shape," Hargrove said Saturday. "However, we thought she played well at the pre-draft camp (in New York last weekend). We've been watching her for a few years so we didn't base (our decision) on just this year."

Taylor, who at best reached about 80 percent of her old form that saw her average 23.7 points per contest in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, showed signs of coming on late in the season, earning Western Athletic Conference All-Tournament honors after averaging 20.0 points a game while leading the Lady Techsters to the championship contest.

Despite the questions surrounding Taylor, Tech head coach Chris Long said it was the 5-foot-11-inch guard's multi-dimensional talents that helped her cause.

"I'm excited for her," Long said. "No question she has the ability (to compete at the WNBA level). She has a ways to go to get into shape but she knows that. They don't draft you if they don't think you can play."

During her four-year Tech career, Taylor scored 1,246 points while hitting 112 three-pointers. Taylor's ability to shoot from the perimeter and score in the paint makes her the type of prospect that most WNBA teams are searching for.

Taylor becomes the 13th Louisiana Tech player to be selected in nine WNBA Drafts. At least one Tech player has been selected in seven of the nine drafts.

Washington used its first round draft pick to select LSU point guard Temeka Johnson. Taylor, who was unable to be reached for comment, will join Johnson and former Lady Techster guard Tamicha Jackson on the 2005 Washington Mystics roster.

Year by Year Lady Techsters Selected in WNBA Drafts
2005
Erica Taylor 2nd Round 19th overall Washington Mystics
2004
Amisha Carter 2nd Round 17th overall New York Liberty
Trina Frierson 2nd Round 19th overall Seattle Storm
2003
Cheryl Ford 1st Round 3rd overall Detroit Shock
2002
Ayana Walker 2nd Round 20th overall Detroit Shock
Takeisha Lewis 3rd Round 35th overall Seattle Storm
2001
None
2000
Betty Lennox 1st Round 6th overall Minnesota Lynx
Tamicha Jackson 1st Round 8th overall Detroit Shock
Shaka Massey 4th Round 59th overall Charlotte Sting
1999
Amanda Wilson 4th Round 46th overall Phoenix Mercury
1998
None
1997
Vickie Johnson 2nd Round 12th overall New York Liberty (Elite Draft)
Racquel Spurlock 3rd Round 17th overall Houston Comets
Debra Williams 3rd Round 23rd overall Charlotte Sting

Current Techsters in the WNBA
Erica Taylor, Washington Mystics
Trina Frierson, Seattle Storm
Vickie Johnson, New York Liberty
Teresa Weatherspoon, Los Angeles Sparks
Betty Lennox, Seattle Storm
Cheryl Ford, Detroit Shock
Amisha Carter, Detroit Shock
Ayana Walker, Detroit Shock
Tamicha Jackson, Washington Mystics

2004 WNBA College Rankings
(based on active players on opening day WNBA roster)
1. Tennessee 10
2. Georgia 9
3. Louisiana Tech 8
4. Connecticut 8
5. LSU 5
6. Florida 4
6. NC State 4
6. Purdue 4
6. Stanford 4
6. Texas 4
6. USC 4