Peoples to graduate this spring

FAYETTEVILLE – Point guard Kristin Peoples will not return next season as a graduate student to play her final season of eligibility at the University of Arkansas, Lady Razorback head coach Susie Gardner announced today. “We all know that basketball was a big part of Kristin’s college experience, but that her lifelong goal is becoming a doctor,” Gardner said. “She graduates this spring, and getting her bachelor’s degree at Arkansas in only three years is a great accomplishment.” Peoples, an academic senior, completes her degree in biology with a pre-med emphasis this spring. The 5-8 guard from the metro Columbus, Ohio, area was unable to play most of the season due to a series of back injuries, and will forego her final year on the court with the Lady Razorbacks. “Kristin’s season did not go the way anyone hoped,” Gardner said. “Her departure opens up another opportunity for a player to join next year’s team.” Averaging 11.9 ppg for the 13 games played, she opened the season with a new career high at SMU with 21 points, and followed with 23 against Grambling and 20 at Western Kentucky. Off to the best start of her career, Peoples was unable to play against Nicholls State, and was out of the lineup until Arkansas’ home game with Vanderbilt. She managed to participate in five Southeastern Conference games, averaging less than half of her regular season totals with only 5.6 ppg in league games. Peoples re-injured her back in practice prior to the South Carolina game. Her scoreless appearance against Florida on Jan. 26 proved to be her final game at Arkansas. Voted Academic All-District twice and Academic All-American this season in spite of her missed games, Peoples concludes her three seasons at Arkansas with 683 points to rank 31st all-time in scoring. She also had 229 assists to rank 16th all-time. In her 71 games at Arkansas, she started 59 games to average 9.6 ppg for her career. Arkansas, 13-15, signed four players in the fall for the recruiting class of 2006. WBCA honorable mention all-American Tanisha Smith, a 6-1 swing forward from Lincoln Prep in Kansas City, Mo., received the most attention with her recent high school honors. Fort Smith Northside guard Kendra Roberts plays for the Arkansas Class AAAAA title this coming weekend. Arlington, Texas, guard Charity Ford of Seguin High and Byhalia, Miss., guard-forward Ashley Wilson each saw their teams win district titles and advance to their respective state tournaments. The Lady Razorbacks now have seven players completing their careers this season. Two graduate students, Rochelle Vaughn and Adrienne Bush, returned for final seasons on the court. Arkansas’ seniors were guard Sheree Thompson and post players Melissa Hobbs, Kristin Moore and Kristina Andjelkovic.