Cleaves, Turnbull chosen to All-GCAC women's team
For immediate release . . . February 28, 2007

NEW ORLEANS — Jarryn Cleaves and Erica Turnbull are Xavier University of Louisiana's representatives on the All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball team chosen by the league's head coaches.

Cleaves became the sixth Gold Nugget to make All-GCAC three times, and she's the third player to do it during Bo Browder's eight seasons as head coach.

Cleaves, a 5-foot-8 junior guard from Memphis, Tenn., scored a team-leading 14.1 points per game during the regular season and made 78 3-pointers to set a Xavier season record. She became the third NAIA Division I player this season to reach 60 3-pointers, 60 assists and 60 steals.

Turnbull, a 6-foot sophomore forward/center from Baltimore, Md., did not become a permanent starter until the eighth game this season. She is second on the team with a 12.4 scoring average and leads the team with 7.6 rebounds per game and a .548 field-goal percentage.

Cleaves and Turnbull helped lead Xavier to a 21-10 regular-season record, a second-place finish in the GCAC standings and five consecutive weeks in the NAIA Division I top 25. The Nuggets are the No. 2 seed in the GCAC Tournament and will play seventh-seeded William Carey at The Barn at 7 o'clock tonight.

2006-07 All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Team
Kristen Blackledge, William Carey (F, 6-1 sophomore, Laurel, Miss.)
Jarryn Cleaves, Xavier (G, 5-8 junior, Memphis, Tenn.)
Shatyne Hearn, SUNO (G, 5-7 junior, Atlanta, Ga.)
Jessica Kelly, LSU-Shreveport (G, 5-8 senior, Bossier City, La.)
Emmerentia Ledwaba, Mobile (G, 6-0 senior, St. Pietersburg, South Africa)
Edie Leonards, LSU-Shreveport (G, 5-7 junior, Hackberry, La.)
Lateefa Marshall, SUNO (G/F, 5-11 senior, New Orleans, La.)
Sandra Nweke, Dillard (F, 6-1 sophomore, Houston, Texas)
Maria Rodriguez, Spring Hill (G, 5-8 senior, Violet, La.)
Roxana Rogers, Belhaven (G, 5-7 senior, Lake, Miss.)
Kiely Schork, Loyola (G, 5-3 junior, Burlingame, Calif.)
Travalyn Smith, Tougaloo (F, 5-11 senior, Union Church, Miss.)
Trenell Smith, Loyola (G/F, 5-7 freshman, LaPlace, La.)
Trenese Smith, Loyola (G/F, 5-8 freshman, LaPlace, La.)
Erica Turnbull, Xavier (F/C, 6-0 sophomore, Baltimore, Md.)

Coach of the Year: Dobee Plaisance, Loyola
Player of the Year: Trenese Smith, Loyola
Freshman of the Year: Trenese Smith, Loyola
Newcomer of the Year: Edie Leonards, LSU-Shreveport

Xavier's 3-Time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Selections
4 times — Jackie Tucker (2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04)
4 times — Sherlett Hendy (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94)
3 times — Jarryn Cleaves (2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07)
3 times — Alisheian Graham (2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03)
3 times — Cassee Davis (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98)
3 times — Demetria Lang (1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87)