Feb. 22, 2006
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - With the West Coast Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament just around the corner, the WCC takes a look back at some of the event's all-time great performers. Each weekday, leading up to the day before the championships begin (March 1), the WCC will recognize one male and one female former student-athlete for their achievements during the WCC Tournament. This year's event marks the 20th anniversary of the men's tournament and the 15th anniversary of the women's tournament. On Day 3, the WCC looks back at former WCC Tournament greats Dana Jones of Pepperdine and Jessica Gray of San Diego.
WCC Tournament All-Time Great Performers: Day 3
PEPPERDINE - Dana Jones (1991-94)
In four seasons in Malibu, Dana Jones was a major contributor on a Pepperdine Waves' team that captured three WCC Tournament titles (1991, 1992, 1994) and appeared in four consecutive championship games.
In fact, Jones is just one of two players in WCC Tournament history to be named to four consecutive all-tournament teams.
In his senior season, Jones guided the Waves to a 56-53 win over San Diego in the championship game and was named tournament MVP, becoming just the third Pepperdine player to earn the conference distinction. Jones ranks second on the WCC's all-time tournament scoring charts with 183 career points.
SAN DIEGO - Jessica Gray (1996-2000)
San Diego tied the 1994 Portland squad as the lowest seeded team to ever capture a WCC Tournament title when the No. 4 seeded Toreros handed top-seed Pepperdine a 68-51 defeat in the 2000 championship game.
Senior Jessica Gray earned tournament MVP honors after leading the unlikely champions with 47 total points in USD wins over LMU, Santa Clara, and the Waves en route to the program's second NCAA Tournament berth.
Gray turned it on as the tournament progressed, registering a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game. She finished her career ranked among the top-10 on San Diego's career scoring and rebounding charts.
WCC Tournament All-Time Great Performers: Day 1 - Dan Dickau, GON & Melissa King, SCU
WCC Tournament All-Time Great Performers: Day 2 - Hank Gathers, LMU & Valerie Gillon, USF