April 17, 2004

Duquesne University's Candace Futrell (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona) was drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the top of the third round of Saturday's 2004 WNBA draft. Futrell is the second Duquesne player picked in a WNBA draft.

Futrell led the Atlantic 10 in scoring on her way to earning Co-Player of the Year honors. Her 21.4 ppg scoring average was 6th best in the nation. A three-time All-Atlantic 10 selection, Futrell was named first team All-Conference this year after being named the A-10's Most Improved Player in 2002. Futrell finished her career second on Duquesne's all-time scoring list with 1,668 points. Her 183 three-pointers made are the most by a Duquesne player. The Altoona, Pa. native scored in double figures in 77 of 108 games and totaled 20 or more points in a game 39 times.

Futrell, a three-year starter for the Dukes, participated in the 2003 USA Basketball Team Trials this past summer. She also participated in the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp on April 7-8 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, NY.

The first Duquesne player selected in the WNBA draft was the Dukes' all-time leading scorer, Korie Hlede, who was the fourth overall pick in 1998.

Another A-10 player was selected by the Sun. George Washington center Uga Oha, the league's defensive player of the year, was picked in the second round. And guard Cathy Joens, the other co-player of the year, was drafted by the New York Liberty.

The Sun preseason tips off on Thursday, May 6th in San Antonio.