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Coach Crane and Zane
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Teilane First Women's Basketball Player in School and League History Drafted by WNBA; Detroit Shock, Round Three, Pick 35

April 5, 2006

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BOSTON, MA - Senior center Zane Teilane was drafted as the 35th pick in the third round of the 2006 WNBA Draft today (April 5), becoming the first women's basketball player in Western Illinois University and Mid-Continent Conference history to be drafted to the pro league.

Teilane (Riga, Latvia) joins the Detroit Shock team that finished fourth in the East last season with a 16-18 overall mark under head coach Bill Laimbeer.

"I'm really excited and happy about the opportunity to play in Detroit," said Teilane. "I'm excited to play for Coach Laimbeer and to further develop my game under him and his staff."

With Detroit's pick of Teilane, she becomes the first Western Illinois player since Mike Scifres (2002 - 5th round, 149th pick to San Diego Chargers) to be drafted by a professional league.

(April 6) At a post-draft news conference with Teilane and Coach Leslie Crane in Macomb, Coach Crane said: "Everyone of the kids that came into the program we told them when they were recruited that they would have an opportunity to play basketball with a possible WNBA player in Zane and that has come to fruition. They know the hard work that she has put into that and I can't help but think that this is going to help motivate them and continue their hard work. It's definitely another feather in our cap for our program, another first in this program. We are happy with the things Zane has done for this program, for this university and for our conference. The Mid-Con never had anyone taken in the draft, so this is a first conference, as well, and will help strengthen us within a national limelight." (news conference transcript)

The abbreviated Teilane file:
• 2006 Kodak/WBCA All-America Honorable Mention
• Mid-Con Player of the Year (2006, 2005)
• Mid-Con Defensive Player of the Year (2006, 2005)
• Mid-Con First Team (2005)
• Mid-Con All-Tournament Team (2006, 2004, 2003)
• Career-leading scorer (1,547 points), rebounder (969 boards) and shot blocker (406 rejections).

Detroit Shock news release
Stats for WNBA draft
Westerwinds Basketball


Posted By: WIU Athletics (SID@wiu.edu)
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