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Monarchs select Kim Smith and Scholanda Hoston in first round

April 5, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


SACRAMENTO, CALIF., April 5, 2006- The 2005 WNBA Champion Sacramento Monarchs announced today that they have selected Kim Smith from the University of Utah and Scholanda Hoston from Louisiana State University with the 13th and 14th respective picks of the 2006 WNBA Draft, held today at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

A 6'1" forward from Mission, B.C., Canada, Smith is one of the first Utah players ever to be selected in the WNBA Draft and was recently named a 2006 Third-Team All-American by the Associated Press. Smith is a four-time Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and is just the second NCAA Division I women's basketball player to commit such a feat. She is also the MWC and Utah all-time career leader in scoring, finishing her collegiate career with 2,281 points.

"Throughout her four-year college career, Kim has had a great shooting percentage from the floor and the line," said Monarchs General Manager and Head Coach, John Whisenant. "We think she can learn our defensive style and be an excellent team player."

Sacramento also selected Scholanda Hoston who hails from Miami, Fla. in the first round. A 5'10" guard, Hoston finished her LSU career with 1,225 points, 230 steals, 219 assists and 120 three-point field goals made. She also finished her career 15th all-time in scoring at LSU, fifth in career three-point field goals and seventh in total career steals.

Whisenant commented, "Scholanda is a long-armed, athletic, defender that can fill the guard position after losing Chelsea Newton in the expansion draft to Chicago last year. She can come in and defend our opponent's guards, especially their point guards. We're very happy to have her join us in training camp."

In the third round the Monarchs drafted Lamisha Augustine (41st overall pick) from San Jose State University. A 6'1" guard from Fresno, Cali., Augustine is the first ever WNBA draft pick for SJSU. A two-time First-Team All-WAC selection, Augustine finished her career as the school's seventh all-time leading scorer with 1,226 points. She also ranks third all-time in blocked shots (138) and also set the school record for blocked shots in a season this past year with 43.

"Lamisha is very athletic," said Whisenant. "She is a good, young, prospect and was one of the leading scorers in the WAC this past season."

The Sacramento Monarchs will begin Training Camp for the 2006 WNBA Season on Sunday, April 23. They will play three games in the preseason, the first being on Friday, May 5, versus the New York Liberty at 7:00 p.m. PDT, at ARCO Arena. The team will then travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they will host the Connecticut Sun, in a rematch of the 2005 WNBA Finals, on Tuesday, May 9, at 6:00 p.m. PDT, at University Arena "The Pit." The final preseason game will be on Saturday, May 13, against the New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden, at 1:00 p.m. PDT.

On Saturday, May 20, the Monarchs will be nationally televised on ABC, for the WNBA's Opening Day, against the Phoenix Mercury, at 1:00 p.m. PDT, at ARCO Arena, with the Championship Ring Ceremony to begin at 12:15 p.m.

Be a part of the Monarchs 10th Anniversary season. 2006 Sacramento Monarchs Season Tickets are on sale now. For more information, please visit the Monarchs website at www.SacramentoMonarchs.com .

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