AUSTIN--Prairie View A&M University’s women’s basketball team was recently recognized before the floor of the Texas House of Representatives for their outstanding 2007 winning season.   The special recognition was sponsored by Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. (Houston) and held on the floor of the House of Representatives in the Texas State Capitol Building.

After enjoying the school’s first-ever winning season and winning a share of the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season title, another university first, the Lady Panthers captured their first-ever SWAC tournament championship.  The Lady Panthers earned an automatic bid and represented the SWAC in the 2007 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.

In just her second season as the team’s head women’s basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke was named the 2007 SWAC co-coach of the year.  Cooper-Dyke, former head coach of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and two-time WNBA most valuable player, was officially named the head women’s basketball coach at Prairie View A&M in July 2005.

During the team’s historical season several players reaped post season and tournament honors.  Gaati Werema was named SWAC women’s basketball freshman of the year and to the all-conference first team. Junior guard Shavonne Smith earned second team All-SWAC honors.  Candice Thomas, a true freshman, was named the 2007 SWAC tournament MVP and to the all-tournament team and Werema was selected to the all-tournament team.  Senior guard Angel Smith’s hard work in the classroom has paid off with her selection to the 2007 SWAC All-Academic basketball team.

Coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. 2007

Photo: PVAMU Public Relations Office

Members of the 2007 Prairie View A&M University Women’s Basketball team are joined by PVAMU Administrators and Reps. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. and Alma Allen. 2007

Photo: PVAMU Public Relations Office

Ranked No. 27 on Black Enterprise magazine’s 2006 list of “Top 50 Colleges and Universities for African-Americans,” Prairie View A&M University was founded in 1876 and is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in Texas.  With an established reputation for producing engineers, nurses and educators, PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees in 50 academic majors, 37 master’s degrees and four doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools.  A member of the Texas A&M University System, the university is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. During the university’s 131-year history, nearly 48,000 academic degrees have been awarded.  For more information regarding PVAMU, visit www.pvamu.edu.