1990

s p rters to welcome

division games this season, her scoring average is 17.1. f4~CCC is 31·9 dw·ing Edwards' career. At only 135 pounds, Edwards used quickness to negotiate her 5 10 12 frame through the bigger bodies that play inside. That shouldn't be too surprising. She competed in the Louisiana high school state track meet as a sophomore. "I did what I had to do," Ed– wards said of her play last season. "This year, I don't play inside any more." Edwards and Sadte Triplett are the only returning sophomores. so more is demand-

l Louisiana ) told me about East Centrul ,'' Edwards said. "I talk– ed to coach Pace one night on the phone and he asked me to come over and try out and I did. I had lward about the educa· tion you get here." "She came here strictly tor us to look at," said Pace, who had not seen her play in high school. As fot· her tryout at ECCC, Pace qutckly added, "We saw hPr and we knew we wanted her.' ' · ~ Good choice. Edwards averag. ed 14.0 points as a freshman and is averaging 15.1 for the nation's currently 19th·ranked team. In

nUmekiEd– East Central to enroll in d dn't know a I) e\eryone

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played hurt in several games this year." As for the team's national ranking, (which should go up after wins at No. 3 Copiah– Lincoln and Jones last week) Ed wards added, "It's something I'm very much proud of." All of her acclaim hasn't come on the basketball court, however. She was n amed ECCC's homecommg queen this past fall. "I was really surprised," Ed– wards said. "My friends nominated me. I had never been on a court before. I was never in- SEE Edwards 7C.,.. ---- ---------

s pressure to be agreed. "OlJ– leader on and reqUtres a certain

.cT'II'W::r""""'.,.,., ) get from col- been a leader. hat she does in a ~!SS::::::::Jln;g manner. She of heart and has

Umeki Edwards

Continued from lC

Th1s week, Edwards was nam– ed a sophomore class favorite as well. Not bad for someone who knew only one other person in . Mississippi, Co-Lin player Sharon Walker, a year ago.

ted in anything like that. I ,; e always been a basketball– _.-pe person." "As far as I know, they've ne,;er had another out-of-stater as queen) here," Pace said.

SCOTT coum TDI!S ~l~UP~ WIIfSTOK· COtnrn JOUJUW,

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