April 17, 2004

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara's Lindsay Taylor was selected by the Houston Comets in the second round of the 2004 Women's National Basketball Association Draft - held Saturday in Secaucus, N.J. - and then traded to the Phoenix Mercury.

The Comets made Taylor their top pick, 26th overall, as the squad did not have a first-round choice. Houston then traded the rights to Taylor to Phoenix for the rights to Oklahoma's Maria Villarroel, whom the Mercury had selected 27th at the start of round three. It was a busy day for Phoenix, which made Diana Taurasi the No. 1 overall selection and took Chandi Jones with the eighth pick, but traded her to Detroit for Shereka Wright, Sheila Lambert and the 23rd pick, which they used to select Erika Valek. The Mercury - who finished 2003 at 8-26 overall - also drafted Tennessee's Ashley Robinson 14th overall in the second round.

Taylor finished her collegiate career as UCSB's all-time leading scorer with 1,767 points, and also established school records for career field goal percentage (55.8%) and blocked shots (243). The 6'8" center from Chandler, Ariz., also ranks third in Gaucho history with 877 total rebounds. She enjoyed her most decorated season as a junior in 2002-03, earning Big West Conference Player of the Year honors as well as honorable mention All-America acclaim from the Associated Press. This past season Taylor was one of 30 finalists for the Inaugural John R. Wooden Women's Award and earned her fourth consecutive all-conference nod while helping Santa Barbara reach the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. The religious studies major also gained international experience at the 2003 Pan American Games, helping Team USA earn the silver medal.

Taylor becomes the fourth Gaucho in the past five years to be chosen in the WNBA Draft. In 2002 Taylor's former teammate Kayte Christensen was drafted 40th overall by Phoenix and currently starts at forward for the Mercury, while the Minnesota Lynx made swing player Erin Buescher their second round selection (23rd overall) in 2001. Finally, point guard Stacy Clinesmith was taken in the second round, 30th overall of the 2000 draft by the Sacramento. In addition, former Santa Barbara standouts Erin Alexander (1993-97) and Erika Kienast (1988-92) enjoyed careers in the WNBA as well, entering the league as free agents.

The complete 2004 WNBA Draft board can be viewed at www.wnba.com.