Stacy Jennings, a senior at Shawnee High School, has signed a letter of intent to continue her basketball career and further her education at Mount Vernon Nazarene College.
Jennings, a 5-foot-6 guard from Springfield, Ohio, averaged 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 4.7 steals per game during her senior season. She also shot 45 percent from the field, 32 percent from beyond the three-point arc, and 69 percent at the free throw line.
For her efforts, Jennings was named to the All-Clark County Team and the District 9 All-Star Team. She was also an Honorable Mention All-Southwest District selection in Division II.
"Stacy is a player who can break a game wide open with her offensive explosiveness," said MVNC head coach Steve Gregory. "She can hit the deep three-pointer when left open or burn her defender to the basket with her slick moves when the defense plays too tight."
"I see Stacy competing for playing time at the one, two, and three guard spots for us with the shooting guard being her best spot," Gregory added. "When I first saw her play, she impressed me with her work ethic and team-above-self attitude. She played mostly at the point and shooting guard positions and filled her role very well. She could have been selfish and taken more shots, but she was more interested in seeing her team excel rather than padding her own statistics."
Besides playing basketball, Jennings has also been honored for her efforts in the classroom. She was a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students.
Jennings, who plans to major in Biology, said that several aspects influenced her decision to become a Lady Cougar. "I chose MVNC because it had more advantages for me than most colleges," she explained. "The main reason is so I can follow God. MVNC will give me an opportunity to expand as a person in God’s hands, and I believe that He will lead me in the right direction."
"I also chose MVNC because of the basketball coach, the players, and the style of game that is played there," Jennings added. "I absolutely loved the campus because of its beauty, and I felt at home there."
"Stacy is determined to make a difference in life as a Christian role model and student-athlete," said Gregory. "I was impressed with her as a basketball player with a lot of potential, but I am even more impressed with her as a person."
The Lady Cougars posted a 16-14 overall record during the 1998-99 campaign and finished fourth at the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament for the second straight year.
