DeHorney to be honored at SEC Tourney

FAYETTEVILLE – Former University of Arkansas women’s basketball standout Delmonica DeHorney Hawkins will be honored as a member of the Southeastern Conference Greats program at the 2011 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., this week.

In the storied history of the Southwest Conference, only one woman was voted by the league coaches to a player of the year honor three times in a career. Delmonica DeHorney was the SWC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 1988. An injury limited her playing time as a sophomore, but she returned full force as a junior and senior to lead the league in scoring and earn the 1990 and 1991 SWC Player of the Year award.

The first player twice voted first team all-conference, DeHorney was chosen SWC Player of the Week three times and all-tournament once. Her career was remembered years later as she was the only women’s basketball player voted to the five-player first-team of the SWC All-Decade Team.

She became the second Razorback basketball player and the fourth overall inductee to the Arkansas Hall of Honor in September 2000. The first Kodak All-American at the University of Arkansas, DeHorney set the standard by which all future post players will be judged. Leading Arkansas and the SWC in scoring and field goal percentage, DeHorney paced the Razorbacks to the first win over Texas by a conference opponent. The win at Texas broke a 183-game streak and the UT strangle-hold on the conference title.

She earned All-NCAA West Regional team honors for her back-to-back 30-point games at the Stanford-hosted tournament. Arkansas reached the Elite Eight with DeHorney leading the way. For her efforts, DeHorney was voted the SWC Player of the Year in 1990 as well as one of the 10 players selected by the WBCA for the Kodak All-America team.

DeHorney-Hawkins is one of 12 SEC Greats who will be honored at halftime of their school’s first game in the tournament. The 2011 class includes: Shalonda Enis, Alabama (Basketball); Delmonica DeHorney Hawkins, Arkansas (Basketball); Margaret Hoelzer, Auburn (Swimming & Diving); Muriel Page, Florida (Basketball); Tracy Henderson, Georgia (Basketball); Rachel Komisarz, Kentucky (Swimming & Diving); Jenny Lidback, LSU (Golf); Jackie Martin, Ole Miss (Basketball); Tiffany McWilliams-Dudley, Mississippi State (Track & Field); Kim Pietro, South Carolina (Softball); Melissa McCray Duke, Tennessee (Basketball); Candice Storey Lee, Vanderbilt (Basketball).

This marks the 11th year of the SEC Greats program. Arkansas’ previous honorees include: Christy Smith (2001), Wendi Willits (2002), Amber Shirey (2003), Christy Smith (2004), Tracy Webb Rice (2005), Bettye Fiscus Dickey (2006), Kimberly Wilson Jenkins (2007), Shelley Wallace (2008), Lisa Sparks Walker (2009/Track and Field) and Shameka Christon (2010).

The Razorbacks (18-10, 6-10 SEC) open tournament play with Florida Thursday at noon.