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Villarroel Selected by Phoenix Mercury in WNBA Draft
April 17, 2004 | Women's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. - As the first pick in the third round Saturday, senior Maria Villarroel becomes the fifth Oklahoma women's basketball player to be selected in the WNBA Draft. Villarroel was chosen 27th overall and the fourth choice of the day by Phoenix Mercury.
Going as the first overall selection of the 2004 draft and to the Phoenix Mercury was Diana Tauasi of Connecticut. Phoenix also selected Houston's Chandi Jones (eight overall pick) and Ashley Robinson of Tennessee (14th overall pick).
Villarroel concluded her two-year career with OU as the team's leading scorer with 14.3 points per game and field goal shooter, hitting 52.7 percent of her shot. The 5-8 guard established a school record for best points per game average of a two-year player, with 14.6 ppg.
The Margarita, Venezuela, native was named to the 2004 Big 12 All-Tournament team after averaging a double-double with 16.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She also shot an impressive 67.4 percent over the four game span assisting OU to its second Big 12 Tournament title in three years. The Sooners also became the first team to win the tournament crown playing four games in five days.
Prior to joining Oklahoma, Villarroel was a two-time National Junior College All-American (2001, 2000) and two-time conference player of the year (2001, 2000).
Former Sooners Stacey Dales-Schuman, LaNeishea Caufield and Rosalind Ross were first round selections of the 2002 WNBA drafted, while Phylesha Whaley was a third round pick in 2000.
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