March 7, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - Jolene Anderson, a 5'8" guard from the University of Wisconsin, is the 2008 recipient of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, presented annually by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the nation's outstanding female collegian 5'8" and under who has excelled both athletically and academically.

Anderson, a native of Port Wing, Wis., has the ability to score from just about anywhere on the court. She is currently first in the Big Ten in scoring averaging better than 20 points per contest. Anderson has led the Badgers for the past four seasons in both scoring and rebounding. On February 20, 2008, she became the Badger's leading scorer, for men and women, after surpassing Alando Tucker's 2,217 point mark. Her career high also came during her senior season as she hit 42 against Iowa. Anderson was the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year and unanimous All-Big Ten First Team member. She is also a candidate for the 2007-08 Naismith Award, Wooden Award and State Farm Wade Trophy. During the summer of 2007, Anderson earned her third-straight gold medal for USA Basketball.

Anderson is scheduled to graduate from the University of Wisconsin in May with a degree in sociology. In addition to her schoolwork and basketball, she finds time to give back to the community. Throughout her four years on campus, Anderson has spent over 80 hours working in the Madison community with visits to the children's hospital and YMCA for a Healthy Kids campaign.

The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is named in honor of James Naismith's daughter-in-law. A panel of representatives from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association selects the recipient. To earn the award, the recipient must demonstrate leadership, character, loyalty, all-around basketball ability and excellence in the classroom.

Anderson will be formally recognized at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens at Noon (ET) on Tuesday, April 8, in the Marriott Waterside's Grand Ballroom. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Tampa Bay, Fla.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame pays tribute to the game's inventor, Dr. James Naismith. Located in Springfield, Mass., "the Birthplace of Basketball", the world's only Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves men's and women's basketball at every level - professional, collegiate, scholastic, Olympic, international and wheelchair.

Previous Winners of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award

1984 Kim Mulkey, Louisiana Tech
1985 Maria Stack, Gonzaga
1986 Kamie Ethridge, Texas
1987 Rhonda Windham, Southern California
1988 Suzie McConnell, Penn State
1989 Paulette Backstrom, Bowling Green
1990 Julie Dabrowski, New Hampshire College
1991 Shanya Evans, Providence College
1992 Rosemary Kisorek, West Virginia
1993 Dena Evans, Virginia
1994 Nicole Levesque, Wake Forest
1995 Amy Dodrill, Johns Hopkins
1996 Jennifer Rizzotti, University of Connecticut
1997 Jennifer Howard, North Carolina State
1998 Angie Arnold, Johns Hopkins
1999 Becky Hammon, Colorado State
2000 Helen Darling, Penn State
2001 Niele Ivey, Notre Dame
2002 Sheila Lambert, Baylor
2003 Kara Lawson, Tennessee
2004 Erika Valek, Purdue
2005 Tan White, Mississippi State
2006 Megan Duffy, Notre Dame
2007 Lindsey Harding, Duke