University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Pauline Love Trying to Make Jump to Next Level
4/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 5, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Pauline Love, who recently completed her senior basketball season at Southern Miss, continues to pursue her dream of playing at the next level after participating in the Pro Hoops Free Agent Camp last weekend in San Antonio, Texas.
The one-day camp took place on Saturday and Love was one of 45 players to display her talents in front of WNBA franchises.
"During the event, I spoke with all of the WNBA coaches and scouts," Southern Miss coach Joye Lee-McNelis said. "They were extremely impressed with her enthusiasm, communication on defense, her instincts to always rebound and be around the ball. Three teams - the Seattle Storm, Connecticut Sun, and Tulsa Shock - said she would get an invitation to their training camps if she does not get drafted."
Southern Miss has had one previous player play in WNBA. Brandy Reed was taken in the third round of the 1998 WNBA Draft and then a year later was picked by the Minnesota Lynx in the 1999 Expansion Draft. Reed played five seasons in the league.
Love, who is awaiting word to see if she will be drafted, also is one of three finalists for the Gillom Trophy which is given to the top women's collegiate basketball player in the state of Mississippi. It is the third-straight year she has been nominated for this award.
The Luxora, Ark., native also was a three-time, first-team All-Conference USA player and this season She averaged 18.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game during her final season. Through games of March 30, Love ranked No. 2 in the country in both rebounds per game and double-doubles (21), as well as No. 33 in scoring average.
The WNBA Draft is set for Thursday, April 8, beginning at 2 p.m., CT. The first round can be seen on ESPN 2, while the remaining rounds are slated for ESPNU and NBA TV. The Gillom Trophy presentation at the Mississippi Hall of Fame in Jackson is also slated that night with a reception starting at 5:30 p.m., and the awards program begins at 6:30 p.m.
