By Troy Guthrie, Sports Information Director
Elam signs with IU, Dunson a star at Bradley
November 19, 2008
Elam added to IU’s 2009-10 recruiting class
BLOOMINGTON – Lady Trailblazers forward Hope Elam (sophomore; Champaign,
Ill.) is one of the latest additions to Indiana University’s 2009-10
women’s basketball recruiting class. IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack announced the 6-1 Elam’s signing on Tuesday.
Through VU’s first three games this season, Elam – a transfer from St. Louis – averaged 18 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. She also shot 42 percent from the floor and 84 percent from the line over that stretch. Elam had 25 points and 18 rebounds in the Lady Trailblazers’ 67-62 victory over Lincoln Trail Tuesday night. She also had an assist and a steal in the win.
In her senior season in high school, Elam averaged 22.6 points and 13 rebounds per game, ending her career with 1,523 points. She set single-season records for points (656) and rebounds (373) and had 28 double-doubles. Elam, a three-time all-conference and two-time all-area honoree, earned third team all-state accolades as a senior and was a named one of 16 Illinois Miss Basketball Award finalists.
“Hope Elam – what a blessing it is to have her caliber of athleticism join our program,” Legette-Jack said in a release. “She has been working on a lot of things that she needs to work on, but she is a player that can put up a lot points in a hurry for us. She reminds us a lot of a great player on our team in Whitney Thomas.
“Her tenacity of purpose is tremendous on the boards and being able to hit that 3-point shot and put the ball on the floor will give us a little more flexibility in our offense,” the coach continued. “We’re certainly excited about her. Her character, academics and basketball are all tremendous.
Former Trailblazer Dunson Leads Bradley to Hot Start
Former Vincennes Trailblazer Dodie Dunson, who transferred to Bradley this season, has been named the season’s first Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week.
Dunson earned the honor by leading the Braves in scoring in each of Bradley’s first two games. He had 21 points in a win Friday night, scoring Bradley’s first seven points, then recording another seven consecutive points as the Braves secured the win. Dunson followed up Friday’s game with a team-high 15 points in Bradley’s loss Sunday at Florida.
Dunson added four rebounds in each game and had only three total turnovers in a total of 74 minutes. He also averaged 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the first two games.
The 21 points Friday night were the most by a Bradley player in his debut since 2000. Dunson was also became the first newcomer to lead the Braves in scoring in a season-opening game since 1993.
