Jan. 6, 2004 - The Houston Comets added two players to its roster in the WNBA Dispersal Draft of the Cleveland Rockers held via conference call today, acquiring the eighth pick from the Connecticut Sun in a trade consummated on January 5. In exchange, the Sun received Houston�s second-round pick (24th overall) in the 2004 WNBA Draft. Houston took center Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough with the choice acquired from the Sun, and then selected forward/center Lucienne Berthieu with its own 11th pick.

Johns Kimbrough (6-3, Michigan �98) has averaged 3.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game over five WNBA seasons with the Charlotte Sting, Miami Sol and Cleveland Rockers. Originally selected by the Sting in the third round (27th overall) of the 1998 WNBA Draft, Johns Kimbrough finished her collegiate career as Michigan�s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.552), second in rebounds (827) and sixth in scoring (1,261 points).

Berthieu

Berthieu (6-2, Old Dominion �02) averaged 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 27 career games with the Rockers. In 2003, Berthieu was first in the WNBA in free throw attempts per 40 minutes (9.15). Berthieu was originally selected by the Seattle Storm in the second round (19th overall) of the 2002 WNBA Draft before joining the Rockers.

Overall, 16 players were available to be selected in the one-round draft, including those players who did not play last season, but to whom Cleveland had negotiating rights. Teams drafted in inverse order of their regular-season finish in 2003. Rockers guard/forward Merlakia Jones, who is an unrestricted free agent, was not available for selection in the Dispersal Draft.

Complete Dispersal Draft results