Women's Basketball Southern Conference

Strickland Transfers To Furman

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Furman women's basketball coach Dr. Sam Dixon
announced on August 14 that forward Mary Virginia "Mivvi" Strickland will
join the Lady Paladin basketball team this fall, transferring from the
University of Alabama where she played 12 games as a true freshman in
2001-02.

"Mivvi has a lot of wonderful qualities as a player," said Dixon on
Wednesday. "She can legitimately play two positions and I think her year of
experience in the Southeastern Conference can prove invaluable in moving to
our conference. I expect Mivvi to bring an added degree of toughness to
the court and she will raise the overall skill level of our program."

Strickland averaged 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 points while playing five minutes
per game for coach Rick Moody last season. As a prepster at Vestavia Hills
in Birmingham, Ala., she was twice named to the 6A all-state team and was
named Super Senior by the Birmingham News. Strickland was also an all-area
and all-region choice and was a two-time team captain and team MVP. While
at Vestavia, Strickland earned four track letters and two volleyball
letters in addition to her four basketball awards, and was voted Most
Athletic by the student body.

Though Strickland will enroll at Furman this fall, NCAA regulations
governing women's basketball transfers will force her to sit out of the
2002-03 competitive basketball season. She will, however, be allowed to
practice with the team and will compete in 2003-04 as a sophomore.