Laura Harper

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., April 9, 2008 - The Sacramento Monarchs today announced they selected Laura Harper from the University of Maryland with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 WNBA Draft, held at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club located in Palm Harbor, Fla.

A 6’4” forward/center from Elkins, Pa., Harper was a 2007 Naismith Award Finalist and was the 2006 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Also, she was named an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention and third-team All-ACC this season. In her four years with Maryland, Harper scored over 1,400 points (14th all-time in scoring) and averaged 12.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 60.3 percent from the floor. She leaves the program as the all-time leading shot blocker and also ranks fourth all-time in the program with 873 career rebounds.

“There were many good picks available for us and we felt that Harper was best suited for our needs,” said Monarchs General Manager John Whisenant. “Harper is tall, tough, a great rebounder and consistently shoots at a high field goal percentage.”

In the third round, the Monarchs selected A’Quonesia Franklin from Texas A&M with the 38th overall pick, Izabela Piekarska from the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) with the 40th pick and Charel Allen from Notre Dame with the 43rd pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft.

Franklin, a 5’3” guard from Tyler, Texas, was a 2007 and 2008 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection and 2008 All-Big 12 Second Team honoree. This past season she averaged 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.

Piekarska, a 6’5” center from Warszawa, Poland, was named to the 2007 All-C-USA second team after averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for UTEP in 2007. She finished her career as the program’s all-time leading scorer and the only player in school history to register more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 blocked shots and 100 assists.

Allen, a 5’11” guard from Monessen, Pa., was a 2008 Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection and a two-time All-Big East First Team honoree. This past season she averaged 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

The Monarchs open their 12th WNBA season at ARCO Arena as they take on their 2007 WNBA Playoff first round opponent, the San Antonio Silver Stars, on May 17, at 7 p.m., PDT.

Be a part of the excitement of 2008 Sacramento Monarchs basketball. Flexible and affordable ticket plans are on sale now. For more information, please click here.

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