April 27, 2004

West Texas A&M University women's basketball head coach Bob Schneider announced that Olivia Pyburn has signed to play basketball for the Lady Buffs.

Pyburn is a 5-8 guard who comes to WTAMU from Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas. The Dallas, Texas, native was an All-Conference selection for the Buccaneers this season, after finishing 14th in scoring in the Region XIV Athletic Conference. Pyburn averaged 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game in leading the Buccaneers to a 17-14 record and a berth in the Region XIV Playoffs.

Pyburn will have two years of eligibility for the Lady Buffs.

"We are very excited Olivia has decided to join our Lady Buff basketball program," Schneider said. "She is a very athletic player and will be a good scorer for us. She can also penetrate and create on her own. She is a great defender as well, and we expect her to come in and make an immediate impact."

Pyburn is the second member of the Lady Buffs' 2004 recruiting class, joining Jessica Smith, a 6-0 forward from Bozeman, Mont., who is transferring from Wichita State University, and signed in November.

WTAMU finished the season with a 25-6 ledger and ranked No. 21 in the WBCA Top 25 Poll. The Lady Buffs advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA-II South Central Regional Tournament, where they lost to Northeastern State, 79-71, in overtime.

-WT-