[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[page E550]]
               BAYLOR UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2005

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
the Baylor University Women's Basketball Team on their success during 
the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. With a record of 31-3, the Lady 
Bears have risen to the challenge and have represented the Big Twelve 
and the State of Texas with pride. Led by point guard Chelsea Whitaker, 
the Lady Bears have won their way into the Championship game where they 
will face Michigan State tonight.
  I attended the Lady Bear's 68-57 victory over LSU in the Final Four 
game on Sunday and was particularly excited for junior forward Sophia 
Young, who scored 21 points in the game, and was named the Tempe 
Regionals' MVP earlier in the tournament. As a Member of the House 
Immigration Subcommittee, I was able to help bring Miss Young's mother, 
Annie Christopher, from St. Vincent, West Indies to see her daughter 
play collegiate basketball for the first time. Sophia is a very 
talented basketball player and I am glad that she was able to take her 
place as a member of the Baylor basketball team through the U.S. 
Immigration program. We as a nation embrace talent such as Sophia's 
athletic gifts and we recognize the value of reuniting families for 
important moments. After Baylor's latest victory when Sophia was able 
to hug her mother in the stands, you could see that this is truly the 
real face of immigration.
  I also want to congratulate Coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson on her great 
achievements at Baylor. Tonight, she has a chance at achieving history; 
a win over Michigan State would make her the first women's coach to win 
a championship as a player and coach. She truly deserves all the credit 
she receives for the job she has done with this talented team. In 2000, 
she inherited a program that went 7-20 the previous season, in her very 
first season she guided the Lady Bears to a 21-9 record and last year 
took Baylor to the Sweet 16. This year the Lady Bears enter the 
national championship game having won 19 straight games, the longest 
such streak in college basketball this year.
  I am confident that the great fans of Baylor will carry the Lady 
Bears to victory. They have withstood great challenges, both mental and 
physical to reach the pinnacle of women's college basketball. I wish 
the Lady Bears all the luck tonight as they play in the Championship 
game and hope they are able to finish their great season with a win.

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