Date: March 26, 2002
Contact: Greg Murphy (540) 463-8674
Release: Upon Receipt

JESSICA MENTZ NAMED VIRGINIA STATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Megan Babst Named Second Team All-State

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee senior forward Jessica Mentz (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) was named the Virginia College Division Player of the Year as voted on by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) and announced on Tuesday afternoon. Senior center Megan Babst (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) earned second team accolades.

For Mentz, it marks her second consecutive selection to the All-State First Team. Babst was an honorable mention pick a year ago.

In 2001-02, Mentz was the first W&L women's basketball player to be named the ODAC Player of the Year after her finest season in a W&L uniform. She led the ODAC and was 15th nationally in rebounding (11.8 rpg) and was second in the ODAC and 16th nationally in scoring (20.0 ppg).

The 5-foot-9 Mentz, who also earned a spot on the All-ODAC First Team for the second consecutive season, set 21 school records during her career. She is W&L's all-time leading scorer (1,742) and rebounder (973). Her scoring total ranks sixth in the history of Division III women's basketball in the state of Virginia.

Babst also had a banner year in 2001-02. She finished third in the ODAC in both scoring (19.0 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg) and placed 28th nationally with an average of 2.2 blocks per game. The 6-foot-1 Babst was a Second Team All-ODAC selection this season after earning honorable mention accolades each of the last two seasons.

Babst concluded her career with nine school records, including blocks in a season (57) and a career (190) and rebounds in a game (21). She is second all-time at W&L in scoring (1,265) and rebounding (925).

Washington and Lee finished the 2001-02 season with a 12-14 overall record, 9-11 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

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