
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 8, 1995                   TAG: 9503080119
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HOKIES' ROOT IS METRO'S BEST

Senior Jenny Root became the first player in Virginia Tech women's basketball history to be named Metro Conference player of the year Tuesday.

Root, a major force in the Tech program's meteoric rise the past three years, also was a unanimous choice on the Metro's first-team all-conference team.

``It's a great feeling to go out on top,'' said Root, after receiving the accolades Tuesday night at the league's women's banquet in Louisville, Ky.

``It's nice to know that I have the respect of the people who selected the [player of the year] award. It's one of the proudest moments I've ever had at Tech. It shows how much work I and the coaches, especially Bonnie Henrickson [Tech assistant], put in my game so I could be my best.''

The 6-foot-3 Root, a second-team selection as a sophomore and a first-teamer last year, led the Hokies in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (8.0) this season.

The Pensacola, Fla., native ranks second in Tech history in career scoring (1,542 points) and rebounds (787), behind Renee Dennis (1983-87).

Tech senior forward Christi Osborne was selected to the second team for the third straight year.

Root was joined on the first team by junior guard Patricia Nash and sophomore guard Nedra Hosey of Southern Mississippi; center Niamh Darcy of VCU; and Tulane forward Barbara Farris, who was selected the league's freshman of the year.

Lisa Stockton, who led Tulane to a second-place finish behind Tech in the Metro's regular-season race, was named the league's coach of the year.

by CNB