March 28, 2006

BERKELEY, Calif. - California freshmen Alexis Gray-Lawson and Devanei Hampton were chosen to Women's Basketball News Service's national All-Freshman team. WBNS has been covering women's basketball since the mid-1970s.

Gray-Lawson, who was named the 2005-06 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, finished second on the team and ninth in the conference in scoring at 14.6 ppg. The 5-8 guard from Oakland also ranked fifth in the Pac-10 in three-point field goal percentage (38.9). She led the Bears in three-pointers made (42) and assists (80, 2.7 apg). Gray-Lawson also was picked to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team and was an honorable mention all-conference selection.

Hampton led Cal and ranked seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring at 15.4 ppg, becoming only the 10th freshman to ever earn first-team All-Pac-10 recognition. She joined the elite company of Lisa Leslie, USC (1990-91), Tanja Kostic, Oregon (1992-93), Maylana Martin, UCLA (1996-97), Shaquala Williams, Oregon (1998-99), Nicole Powell, Stanford (2000-01), Shawntinice Polk, Arizona (2002-03), Nikki Blue, UCLA (2002-03), Noelle Quinn, UCLA (2003-04) and Candice Wiggins, Stanford (2004-05).

Hampton, a Pac-10 All-Freshman honoree, paced the Bears and ranked third in the conference in rebounding at 7.9 rpg and topped the Pac-10 in offensive rebounding at 2.89 rpg. The 6-3 center from Oakland paced all Pac-10 rookies in scoring and rebounding this season. She holds the distinction of being only the third freshman to ever lead Cal in scoring and the first since Cynthia Cooke did so in 1981-82 (13.5 ppg).

Gray-Lawson and Hampton helped Cal to an 18-12 overall record and to the Bears' first NCAA Tournament berth in 13 seasons.

Women's Basketball News Service All-Freshman Team
Alexis Gray-Lawson, 5-8 G (California)
Devanei Hampton, 6-3 C (California)
Quanitra Hollingworth, 6-4 C (Virginia Commonwealth)
Ashley Langford, 5-5 G (Tulane)
Shalee Lehning, 5-8 G (Kansas State)
Megan McGuffey, 5-11 G (Wyoming)
Courtney Paris, 6-4 C (Oklahoma)
Candace Parker, 6-3 F (Tennessee)
Morgan Skouby, 6-6 C (Iowa)
Takia Starks, 5-8 G (Texas A&M)