Comets Select Sancho Lyttle Fifth Overall in 2005 WNBA Draft

Published on April 16, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release


HOUSTON – The Houston Comets added three players in the 2005 WNBA Draft, including University of Houston forward Sancho Lyttle with the fifth pick overall. The selection of Lyttle at five marked the highest draft pick for the Comets since 1997 when the team selected forward Tina Thompson with the number-one pick in the Inaugural WNBA Draft. Rounding out Houston's selections were Florida State guard Roneeka Hodges in the second round (15th overall) and third-round pick, guard Jenni Dant of DePaul (28th overall).

"We are really, really excited about taking Sancho Lyttle," said Comets Head Coach and General Manager Van Chancellor. "We picked the player we thought was best – best athlete, best upside. I don't think she's (Lyttle) going to do anything but be a tremendous player in our league for years to come. She is a rebounding machine. In the NBA, she reminds me a lot of Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons). She's a great defender, tremendous rebounder and her offense is going to get better and better."

Lyttle (6-4, Houston ‘05) finished her collegiate career at Houston after spending two seasons at Clarendon Junior College in Clarendon, TX. In two seasons with the Lady Cougars, Lyttle averaged 17.6 points and 10.7 rebounds in 62 games. As a senior, she averaged 18.8 points and led the nation in rebounding with 12.1 boards per game. Lyttle earned Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention, All-Conference USA First Team and Conference USA All-Tournament Team honors in 2005. She recorded three 30-plus point games this past season, including a career-high-tying 34 vs. Creighton on November 24, 2004. Lyttle also scored 33 points and hauled down a career-high 20 rebounds vs. USF on January 16, 2005. In her first season with Houston, Lyttle averaged 16.5 points and 9.3 rebounds. She was also selected All-Conference USA Second Team as a junior. Lyttle originally set her Division I career-high in scoring with a 34-point outing vs. Cincinnati on March 5, 2004. The native of St. Vincent, British West Indies also had a 49-point game with 15 rebounds and 10 blocks while at Clarendon Junior College.

Hodges (5-11, Florida State ‘05) began her collegiate career at LSU before moving on to Florida State for the 2004-05 season. She averaged 19.2 points and 1.5 assists in 32 games with Florida State, earning Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention, Kodak Region II All-American and All-ACC First Team honors. Hodges was also selected to play in the WBCA All-Star Challenge, which featured 17 of the top senior NCAA Division I players. She led FSU with her 19.2 points per game, which ranked second in the ACC in scoring average and fifth on FSU's single-season list. Her 615 total points also ranked third on FSU's single-season points list. Hodges set an FSU record with a career-high 39 points in a win over Maryland on January 16, 2005. In three seasons with LSU, Hodges averaged 9.0 points and 1.8 assists in 94 games.

Dant (5-10, DePaul ‘05) averaged 13.4 points, 2.8 assists and 2.20 steals in four seasons at DePaul. She was a three-time All-Conference USA honoree, twice collecting Second Team accolades (2003, 2005) and one Third Team selection (2004). Dant was the first player in DePaul history with at least 1,500 points (1,633), 300 assists (343) and 250 steals (269). As a senior, Dant set career highs in points (14.7) and assists (4.1) per game. Dant was also a member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team in 2002.

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