March 17, 2009

RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech junior Shanavia Dowdell was named LATechSports.com Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday, two days after she was selected to the All-WAC Tournament Team.

Dowdell averaged 19.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in two games at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Reno, Nev. last week. The native of Calera, Ala. shot 65 percent from the field, 67 percent from the free throw line and was 1-for-1 from the three-point arc during the two-game stretch.

In the Lady Techsters' quarterfinal victory over New Mexico State, she scored 18 points and collected seven rebounds. In the following game versus Nevada, she contributed 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

Prior to the WAC Tournament, Dowdell was awarded WAC Player of the Year and she was named to the all-WAC first team. She finished the year ranked No. 1 in the conference in scoring (16.0 ppg), No. 2 in rebounding (9.7 rpg), No. 1 in field goal percentage (.531) and No. 3 in blocks (1.8 bpg).

On Tuesday, the 6-2 forward was one of 52 players named as a WBCA regional finalist for the 2009 State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team.