Feb. 1, 2005

Two former West Texas A&M University Lady Buff basketball uniform numbers will be formally "retired" Saturday night, Feb. 5, 2005, during a ceremony following the Lady Buffs' game against Abilene Christian, which starts at 6 p.m. at the WTAMU Event Center.

Pat McDonald, a two-time, first-team Kodak All-American during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons, will have her #52 retired. Natasha Taylor Stewart, who played for the Lady Buffs from 1993-1997, and was also a two-time All-American, will her #32 uniform retired.

The pair will join former first-team All-Americans, Vanessa Wells (#33) and Teresa Tinner (#22), as the only players in the rich history of Lady Buff basketball to have their uniform numbers retired.

McDonald, a 6-4 post from Kingston, Jamaica, transferred from Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas in 1990, and during her two years at WT the Lady Buffs went 54-8 and lost in the NCAA Regional Finals each year - by a combined total of three points.

Her teams were part of the unbelievable 85-home game-winning streak that ended Dec. 7, 1992, with an 87-74 loss to North Dakota State University in the championship game of the Dr Pepper Lady Buff Classic Tournament. The Lady Buffs were 31-1 at home during her career.

McDonald played in 61 games, starting 58, scored 1,179 points (19.1 per game) and snared 582 rebounds (9.5 per game and best in WT history). She shot 57.7% from the field on 479 of 830 shots, never took a three-point shot, and made 221 of 298 free throws for 74.2%.

Her 40 points, in a 106-75 victory at Emporia State University on Nov. 29, 1991, was a single-game record until it was broken by Brandi Green's 47 points on Dec. 20, 2000. McDonald is listed in the top five of the Lady Buff record books in 13 different categories and twice more in the top ten.

In addition to her All-American honors, McDonald was named to the first-team All-Lone Star Conference, All-LSC Tournament Team, and the NCAA All-South Central Regional teams during her junior season.

She was the tallest player in Lady Buff history until 6-5 Alicia Saunders arrived to play for WT this season.

"Pat was the first tall player to play for the Lady Buffs," WT head coach Bob Schneider said. "She was a great post player who could dominate both ends of the court.

"She made a huge impact on our basketball program. Pat had a tremendous attitude and was always working to improve her game. As a result of that, she was able to continue her career by playing professionally in Japan."

She now resides in West Palm Beach, Fla., with her two children.

Natasha Taylor Stewart, who played for the Lady Buffs from 1993-1997, and was a two-time All-American, will have her #32 uniform retired, along with Pat McDonald, in a ceremony Saturday night following the Lady Buff basketball game Saturday night at the WTAMU Event Center.

Natasha Taylor Stewart was part of a special group of Lady Buffs, who compiled a great record of 101-18 during her four years - winning two Lone Star Conference championships and advancing to the NCAA regional three times, including the Elite Eight quarterfinals at Grand Forks, N.D., in 1997.

The Childress, Texas, native was selected first-team Kodak All-American as a senior, after receiving honorable mention All-American accolades as a junior. Stewart was also a first-team All-LSC and LSC Most Valuable Player her senior season. Additionally, Stewart was also selected third-team Academic All-American, first-team NCAA All-South Central Region, South Central Regional Tournament MVP, and MVP in three regular season tournaments. She was All-LSC and Defensive MVP and first-team All-South Central Region in 1995 and 1996.

In 1997 she was the WTAMU Woman of the Year, Texas NCAA Woman of the Year, and was a finalist for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year, which is based upon academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership.

Stewart is the Lady Buffs' second leading scorer in Lady Buff history with 1,877 points and is ranked in top five of Lady Buff career and single game statistics in 19 different categories. She held the Lady Buff career record for free throws made and attempted, until Celeste Stevenson broke that last year.

Schneider said Stewart was "one of the most competitive players I've ever coached."

"She would play as hard or harder in practice as she would in a game," he said. "She was a great leader on and off the court and did a super job in the classroom as well. Natasha's personality and her will to succeed were outstanding."

She graduated from WTAMU in May 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in sports and exercise science, and received her Master of Science in physical education and recreation from Emporia State University in August 2000. Stewart formerly was an assistant basketball coach at Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, and Emporia State, and served two years as head coach at Eastern Hills High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Currently, she is the head coach at Kennedale, Texas.

Stewart and her husband, Des, and two children live in Arlington, Texas. Coincidentally, her uniform retirement ceremony will occur on her 30th birthday.

-WT-