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Chicago Blaze Select Hoffman with First Round Draft Pick

December 22, 2004 - National Women's Basketball League (NWBL)
Chicago Blaze News Release


Naperville, IL - With the third overall selection in the 2005 NWBL Draft, the Chicago Blaze selected Indiana Fever (WNBA) center Ebony Hoffman. Hoffman (University of Southern California '04) was a rookie in the WNBA in 2004 starting 13 games and appearing in all 30 games for the Fever. Hoffman finished her collegiate career as a Kodak All-American and was ranked among USC's top 10 in 11 of 13 categories, including points, scoring average, rebounds, steals and blocked shots. Hoffman became the first USC player since Cheryl Miller, and the first player in Pac-10 history, to ever tally more than 1500 career points, 1000 rebounds and 245 steals.

In the second round the Blaze selected former Iowa State ('03) standout and three point specialist Mary Cofield. Cofield averaged almost two threes per game her senior season, while shooting an astounding forty-seven percent from behind the arc.

Blaze General Manager Robert Graham thinks the selection of Hoffman and Cofield give the Blaze a great inside-outside punch. "Our biggest challenge last season was with our post position. We were many in number but low on talent. Our number one priority going into training camp from a player perspective is to make sure we can compete in the post this year. With Ebony and the other players that we have acquired, we have accomplished that. Mary gives us a pure shooter, which we desperately needed last season. She has great range, a great floor game, and good size at six feet."

The Blaze also selected guard Denise King (University of Rhode Island '04), forward Kelia Beachem (Cal Poly Pomona / Marshall High School), and center Dominika Wawrzyniak (Northern Michigan University).

Notable players selected in the NWBL first round draft include Amanda Lassiter (NWBL San Jose Spiders / WNBA Minnesota Lynx), Plenette Pierson (NWBL Lubbock Hawks / WNBA Phoenix Mercury) and Kayte Christensen (NWBL Dallas Fury / WNBA Phoenix Mercury).

The NWBL showcases professional women basketball players from across the nation, including players from the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) who choose to stay in the U.S. to play during the off-season. The 2005 season will run from January 15 through April 1. The Blaze will play its home games at North Central College - Merner Fieldhouse. For more information, follow the NWBL at www.nwbl.com and the Chicago Blaze at www.nwbl.com/blaze.

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National Women's Basketball League Stories from December 22, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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