Ann Strother
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Ann Elise Strother (born December 11, 1983) is a professional basketball player and a member of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
High School
Regarded by many as the best girls’ high school basketball player ever to come out of the state of Colorado, Strother led the Highlands Ranch Falcons to two consecutive state championships her junior and senior seasons and was named the Naismith High School National Player of the Year in her senior year (2002). In 2001, Strother became only the second high school player in USA Basketball history to receive the honor of playing for the Junior World Championship Team, the other being Lisa Leslie in 1989.College
Strother was recruited by national powerhouses such as the University of Connecticut (UConn), the University of Tennessee, the University of Georgia, Stanford University, Notre Dame University, and Purdue University before ultimately committing to Connecticut. At UConn, Strother would play for future Hall of Fame inductee Geno Auriemma and alongside two-time National Player of the Year Diana Taurasi while helping Connecticut to its fourth and fifth national titles. Strother played in all 143 games of her collegiate career and started in 142. She averaged 12.9 points per game in her career and 14.0 in her senior season despite festering foot problems. Strother would eventually finish seventh all-time among UConn scorers with 1699 career points, and second all-time in career three-point field goals with 290. Strother joined some elite company when she became only the second player in UConn history to amass more than 1600 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists, 100 steals, and 100 blocks- the other being Diana Taurasi. Strother also excelled in the classroom as she was a Dean’s List student all four of her years at UConn.WNBA
In the 2006 WNBA Draft, Strother was selected by the Houston Comets with the 15th overall pick before being traded to the Phoenix Mercury for Liz Shimek and Mistie Williams. She joins former UConn teammate Taurasi and former Big East rival Cappie Pondexter of Rutgers in Phoenix.Vital Statistics
- Position: Guard/Forward
- Height: 6 feet, 3 inches
- Uniform Number: 43
- Hometown: Castle Rock, Colorado
- High School: Highlands Ranch High School
- College: University of Connecticut
- Major: Psychology
- WNBA Team: Phoenix Mercury
Notable Performances
- March 7, 2006 - scored 20 points in UConn's 50-44 victory over West Virginia to capture the Big East Championship crown; was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player
- January 7, 2006 - scored a game-high 25 points, including 5 three-pointers, in UConn's 89-80 loss to Tennessee; fouled out for the first time in her career in the final minute, to the delight of Tennessee fans
- December 8, 2006 - had 24 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and three blocks in UConn's 72-56 victory over Villanova
- March 8, 2005 - scored 20 points in UConn's 67-51 victory over Rutgers to win the Big East Championship
- April 6, 2004 - scored 14 points, including 3 critical free throws, to help UConn edge Tennessee 71-60 in the National Championship game
- February 5, 2004 - recorded 17 points and 7 rebounds in UConn's 81-67 defeat of Tennessee
- January 30, 2004 - had a career high 27 points and added 10 rebounds to lead UConn to an 82-49 rout of St. John's, despite Taurasi's absence
- April 8, 2003 - scored 17 points and sank the game-clinching free throws to help UConn defeat Tennessee 73-68 in the National Championship game
- February 1, 2003 - recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds in UConn's 77-65 victory over then top-ranked Duke; this game marks the only time Strother was called for a technical foul: she inadvertently elbowed Duke guard Sheana Mosch
- November 22, 2002 - had 11 points and 11 rebounds in her first collegiate game, helping UConn defeat Wright State 85-39
External links
| Preceded by: Shyra Ely | Naismith High School Player of the Year (women's) 2002 | Followed by: Candace Parker |
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