August 14, 2002

ALABAMA'S STRICKLAND TRANSFERRING TO FURMAN

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman women's basketball coach Dr. Sam Dixon announced on Wednesday that forward Mary Virginia "Mivvi" Strickland will join the Lady Paladin basketball team this fall, transferring from the University of Alabama where she played 12 games as a true freshman in 2001-02.

"Mivvi has a lot of wonderful qualities as a player," said Dixon on Wednesday. "She can legitimately play two positions and I think her year of experience in the Southeastern Conference can prove invaluable in moving to our conference. I expect Mivvi to bring an added degree of toughness to the court and she will raise the overall skill level of our program."

Strickland averaged 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 points while playing five minutes per game for coach Rick Moody last season. As a prepster at Vestavia Hills in Birmingham, Ala., she was twice named to the 6A all-state team and was named Super Senior by the Birmingham News. Strickland was also an all-area and all-region choice and was a two-time team captain and team MVP. While at Vestavia, Strickland earned four track letters and two volleyball letters in addition to her four basketball awards, and was voted Most Athletic by the student body.

Though Strickland will enroll at Furman this fall, NCAA regulations governing women's basketball transfers will force her to sit out of the 2002-03 competitive basketball season. She will, however, be allowed to practice with the team and will compete in 2003-04 as a sophomore.