March 31, 2004
WACO, Texas - Baylor senior guard Jessika Stratton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Coronado HS) was named to the 2004 Midwest Regional All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the Elite Eight contest between Tennessee and Stanford at the Lloyd Noble Arena on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. Stratton is the first Baylor Lady Bear to be named to an NCAA Tournament All-Region team.
On Sunday, No. 1 seeded Tennessee defeated Baylor, 71-69, in the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals (Sweet 16) in Norman, Okla. It was Baylor's first trip to the Sweet 16 and third trip to the NCAA tournament in head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson's four seasons at Baylor's helm.
In the loss to the Lady Vols, Stratton scored 16 points and dished out six assists. The 5-10 guard was 6-of-7 from the floor including 3-of-3 from 3-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line. During the game, Stratton became the 23rd Lady Bear to score 1,000 points; she finished her Baylor career with 1,006 points.
As Mulkey-Robertson's first four-year letterwinner, Stratton broke several Baylor season and career records. She set new single season marks in 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Stratton broke her own 3-point percentage record shooting 45.0 percent this season (49-109), bettering her marks of 44.0 percent of last year. She also set a new record by hitting 79-of-90 free throws for 87.8 percent. At one time during the season she hit 31 straight free throws. Stratton shattered the program's career free throw mark, ending her four years at 83.3 percent (265-318). The old mark of 80.2 percent was held by Karen Aulenbacher who played for Baylor form 1975-78.
In addition, Stratton finished among Baylor's top 10 in three categories. With her 407 assists and 131 treys, she finished No. 3 on both of those the career lists. Her 211 career steals places her fifth on that chart.
In Stratton's four years at Baylor, the team has posted a 20-win season each year. They were 21-9 her freshman season, 27-6 as a sophomore, 24-11 as a junior and the Lady Bears completed 2003-04 with a 26-9 mark.
Joining Stratton on the Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team were Stanford's Nicole Powell (Most Outstanding Player), Shyra Ely, Tasha Butts and LaToya Davis of Tennessee and Stanford's Susan Borchardt.
