April 16, 2009

Williams signs with NCAA Division I Prairie View A&M

Heading closer to her home in Beaumont, Texas, Whitney Williams signed a letter of intent to play basketball at NCAA Division I Prairie View A&M on Wednesday.

Prairie View A&M is located 40 miles northwest of Houston, Texas, just two hours from Williams hometown. Her father, Leon, is an alumni of the school.

The 6-foot-3 inch Williams was the Lady Tigers’ second leading rebounder during each of her two years at the school. She averaged nearly eight points and 6.3 rebounds for her career at Cowley.

Williams also grew in her passing skills as she more than doubled her number of assists as a sophomore.

“She has really improved as a player,” Cowley head coach Todd Clark said. “I thought she had a great career here.”

Williams helped Cowley win 12 of its final 13 games and finish with a record of 24-8 this past season. During her two years at Cowley, she helped the Lady Tigers win 45 games and go 28-8 in the Jayhawk East.

“It was a fun experience being in a new state and experiencing snow for the first time,” Williams said. “I learned a lot and got better during my time here.”

Williams will get an opportunity to play for Prairie View A&M head coach Cynthia Cooper, who will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in June. Cooper was a two-time NCAA champion at the University of Southern California, a two-time medalist with the United States women’s basketball team in the Olympics, and was a four-time champion and two-time Most Valuable Player with the Houston Comets of the WNBA.

“I really like the school a lot, they have a good coach and a good atmosphere,” Williams said.

Cooper helped lead Prairie View A&M to the Southwestern Athletic Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament during the 2008-09 season. The Lady Panthers lost to Final-Four participant, Oklahoma University, in the first-round of the tournament.

“I hope we can make it back to the NCAA Tournament and go farther than the first round,” Williams said.
Coach Clark will miss having Williams on the team, but is looking forward to seeing his former player get an opportunity to compete at the next level.

“I think Prairie View A&M will provide a good situation for her,” Clark said. “I hope she goes there and has great success.”