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Stars Select Moriah Jefferson with No. 2 Pick in WNBA Draft

April 14, 2016 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
San Antonio Stars News Release


San Antonio Stars Draftee Moriah Jefferson
San Antonio Stars Draftee Moriah Jefferson
(San Antonio Stars)

SAN ANTONIO - With the second overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm, the San Antonio Stars selected guard Moriah Jefferson from Connecticut. The Stars also selected Oklahoma State's Brittney Martin with the 25th overall pick and acquired No. 14 pick Jazmon Gwathmey from Minnesota in exchange for Jia Perkins.

A 5-7 guard, Jefferson helped lead UConn to a NCAA-record four consecutive national titles and finished her collegiate career at No. 2 on UConn's all-time lists for steals (353) and assists (659). Throughout her collegiate career, she averaged 9.9 points, 4.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 0.2 blocks in 26.6 minutes per game. Additionally, she shot 54.9 percent (608-1106) from the field and 41.9 percent (159-379) from three-point range.

Jefferson won the Dawn Staley (2016) and Nancy Lieberman Awards (2015, 2016) as the top NCAA Division I guard, and was a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith awards. She earned All-American First Team honors from the Associated Press (2016), espnW (2016), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (2015) and the US Basketball Writers Association (2015). The three-time American Athletic Conference First-Team honoree (2014-16) was name the AAC's named Defensive Player of the Year (2016) and Most Improved Player (2015).

"Moriah can play at different speeds. She can spread the floor with her three-point shooting, and we thought she was the best defensive player in college basketball," said Dan Hughes, San Antonio Stars head coach and general manager. "We went into the evaluations with her, and all she did was improve our confidence about taking her at the No. 2 pick. First we saw Moriah's play and evolution during her senior season. Then we got to know her. It all continued to reinforce how special she is and how much we wanted to bring her to San Antonio."

"I would also like to thank Jia Perkins for her five seasons with the Stars organization. We wish her best in the future," said Hughes.

"It means the world to me to be a member of the San Antonio Stars. Being able to come back home and play in front of my friends and family, to come into the program and work with Coach Hughes and my teammates, it's going to be amazing," said Jefferson. "It's going to be incredible to get to play with Kayla, Danielle and all my teammates. I've played against Kayla and always admired her game, and I'm excited to learn everything I can from Danielle. Danielle is so quick and fast, and I always watch her to get pointers. Her mid-range game is what inspired me to work on mine and increase my versatility. It's unfortunate that she got hurt, but I can't wait to talk to her and learn."

A 6-2 center, Gwathmey averaged 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game over four seasons at James Madison. The three-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year (2016, 2015, 2014) finished second in blocks (173), seventh in field goals made (581) and eighth in points (1,555) in James Madison history. She also finished the 2015-16 campaign 22nd in Division 1 in points per game (20.7).

A 6-0 guard, Martin ranks No. 2 in OSU history in total rebounds (1,122), steals (341) and fourth in total points scored (1,783). Following her senior season, she garnered All-America Third Team (AP) and Big 12 Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Player honors. During her four seasons at OSU, she averaged 13.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.4 assists in 33.6 minutes per game. As a senior, Martin became the first player in Big 12 history to lead the conference in points (612), rebounds (337) and steals (84).

The Stars open the 2016 season at home on Saturday, May 14 against the Atlanta Dream. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CST) at the AT&T Center. Individual tickets are on sale now at all San Antonio Ticketmaster locations, including by phone at (210) 225-TEAM, or online at ticketmaster.com or SAStars.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the AT&T Center Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on weekend event days five hours prior to tip off, or by calling (210) 444-5090.

For more information on Stars single-game tickets, planned theme nights or full and partial season ticket plans, visit SAStars.com.




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San Antonio Stars Draftee Moriah Jefferson
San Antonio Stars Draftee Moriah Jefferson
   

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