Jan. 20, 2004

Brentwood, Tenn. - As announced by the league office yesterday, junior college transfer Sami Jo Cotton is the Newcomer of the Week for the week of Jan. 20, 2004. This marks the second time this season Cotton has received OVC Newcomer of the Week, and the fourth out of six times awarded this season, that the Otahkians have claimed the award. Overall in the two seasons of the award, Southeast has claimed it 12 of 17 times awarded.

Cotton averaged 16.5 points and five rebounds in two games for the Otahkians. Cotton led the squad with 18 points, going 4-of-9 from three-point land in the win over Eastern Illinois. She followed that up with a 15-point performance against Tennessee State as she shot 4-of-9 from three-point range for the second straight game. Cotton also dished out a career-high five assists against the Lady Tigers.

On the season Cotton is making a huge impact for the Otahkians as she ranks second on the team and seventeenth in the league in points per game with 11. She is also leading the Otahk squad in both three-pointers per game and three-point field goal percentage. Cotton ranks fourth in the OVC with her 2.27 three-pointers per game and second in the league, shooting 40.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Cotton and the Otahkians (8-7) will resume action in Cookeville, Tenn. Thursday evening against the Golden Eaglettes. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.