March 10, 2008

Irvine, Calif. - Continuing a trend set last season, the Tigers received multiple bids on the All-Big West Conference team, headlined by junior Janae Young's (Sacramento, Calif.) selection to the all-conference second team. Joining Janae, senior Kelsey Lavender (Lake Oswego, Ore.) and junior Amy VanHollebeke (San Diego, Calif.) earned Honorable Mention recognition for their play. The teams were announced on Monday, March 10. This was the first time any of the three Tigers earned all-conference honors in their careers.

In her first year in the Orange and Black, Young led the way for the Tigers in all facets of the game, posting a team-best 13.1 scoring average (6th best in the Big West) while grabbing 7.2 rebounds per game (third highest total in the conference). Defensively, Young ranked in third in the conference in steals, grabbing 65 on the season (2.25 per game). In conference play, Janae kicked her game to another level, posting 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, both totals ranking in the top-5 in the conference. The only Tiger to start all 29 contests this season, Janae went for double figures in 23 of those 29 games, hitting the 20+ point mark twice including going for a career-best 26 points against Cal Poly three weeks ago. For the year, Janae has earned two Player of the Week awards with both coming in the last month as the Tigers tore through the conference.

Earning her first all-conference award in her fourth and final season of play, Lavender returned to form in 2007-08, once again becoming one of the most feared outside shooters in the conference. On the year, Kelsey posted 67 three-pointers, second most in the conference, and sixth most in single season program history. Averaging 9.0 points per game through the entire season, Kelsey improved her scoring average in conference play to 11.3 points per contest. She earned her first ever Player of the Week award during the conference season, leading the Tigers past No. 2 UC Davis, 72-71, with a 17 point effort. Lavender sits just 40 points away from becoming the 17th member of the Tigers' 1,000 point club, entering the conference tournament with 960 career points scored.

In her first year with the Tigers, VanHollebeke led a Tiger attack that ranked No. 1 in the Big West, scoring 69.2 points per game. With VanHollebeke at the point, the Tigers ranked No. 3 in shooting percentage at .409 and No. 4 in assists 13.86 per game. Individually, VanHollebeke posted 9.7 points per game over the entire year while increasing her scoring load in conference games to 10.7 points per contest. Firing away from deep, VanHollebeke posted 1.2 three-pointers per game, ninth best in the conference. Making her teammates better, Amy dished out 3.41 assists per game ranking her in the Top-10 in the conference. Additionally, VanHollebeke added 3.4 rebounds per game and picked up 33 steals on the year.

Pacific will be in action at the Big West Tournament on Thursday, March 13, as they take on the highest seed remaining in second round action after earning a bye in the first round of play by finishing No. 4 in the conference. All tournament games are played at the Anaheim Convention Center.