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Newton invited to pro camp

By Kate Burkholder

Staff Writer

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Published: Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Updated: Sunday, February 22, 2009


Women's Basketball

It's likely that Chelsea Newton hasn't seen the end of her basketball career.

The Rutgers senior guard was one of 41 players who attended the WNBA's Pre-Draft Camp, which was held last weekend in Tarrytown, N.Y.

The camp gives the league a chance to scout the athletes and evaluate the potential selections in all areas before draft day arrives.

As a Scarlet Knight, Newton averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals-per-contest.

The 5-foot-11-inch Louisiana native reached double figures in scoring 51 times in her career, including four 20-point performances on the Banks, starting 95 out of 104 games.

In her senior season, Newton led the Knights to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament - a miraculous run that included a Big East regular season title and the runner-up spot in the conference tournament.

In getting there, she posted 9.4 points and 4.1 rebounds-per-game, garnering the 2005 Big East Defensive Player of the Year award as well as recognition on the All-Big East third team. She added 70 steals and 77 assists to her name in her final season.

Newton emerged as the team's emotional and on-court leader this season, stepping up to guide the young team when Cappie Pondexter was missing at the outset.

Newton's brief mid-season injury left a sizeable imprint on the squad, and similarly she sparked the team in her return to win 12 of its last 14 games.

Should she be selected to play in the WNBA, Newton will become the seventh Scarlet Knight to get there, following in the footsteps of such names as Tasha Pointer (Portland Fire), Tammy Sutton-Brown (Charlotte Sting) and Sue Wicks (New York Liberty), Rutgers' current director of women's basketball operation.

The draft is scheduled for this Saturday beginning at noon, and will air on ESPN2 and NBATV for the later rounds.

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