The Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas —
As a freshman guard for Oklahoma, Jenna Plumley made six 3-pointers to lead the Sooners to a first-round win in the NCAA tournament. It never got quite so good for her again with the Sooners.
A little more than a year later, she was gone, suspended after being charged with trying to steal $34 worth of makeup from a Walmart. In search of a new start, Plumley transferred 480 miles away to Lamar in Beaumont, Texas.
It was a great move. Plum-ley has revived her career this season, earning South-land Conference player of the year honors. Her 107 3-pointers and 220 assists this season are conference records.
Plumley said, “The players and coaches all took me in like family.”
The 14th-seeded Lady Cardinals (26-7) play No. 3 West Virginia (28-5) tonight in the Memphis Regional.
“Life is full of second chances and we gave her one,” said Lamar coach Larry Tidwell. “I knew it would work because she had a good heart and was very competitive.”
“She basically is the team’s offense,” said West Virginia guard Sarah Miles, the Big East defensive player of the year. “She’s really small and that makes her harder to guard. If I’m able to defend her, I don’t know where the offense will come from.”
