June 6, 2006

Phoenix, Ariz.--Former George Mason University guard Jen Derevjanik (Staten Island, N.Y.) extends her WNBA playing career as she signed with the Phoenix Mercury to play the 2006 season under former Mason men's head basketball coach, Paul Westhead (1993-97). For the past two years, Derevjanik played for the Connecticut Sun and became just the second player in Mason's history to play in the WNBA as Keri Chaconas played for the Washington Mystics during the 1998 season.

"We are thrilled that Jen (Derevjanik) has been picked up by Phoenix to continue to represent Mason and the Colonial Athletic Association in the WNBA," said Mason head coach Debbie Taneyhill. "It is a great honor for Jen, that her career in the WNBA has been extended and proves that she is deserving of playing at this elite level."

Derevjanik saw action in 34 games for the Sun in 2005 and garnered a .364 field goal percentage. The Staten Island native averaged 1.2 assists per game, .32 steals per game and .70 points per contest in her second year in the league. During the offseason, Derevjanik traveled overseas and played for Lithuania (Lietuvos Telekomas) of the FIBA Europe League for the second-straight season. In Derevjanik's first year with Lietuvos, the team advanced to its first Women Euroleague Final Four and finished in third place.

Derevjanik started a school record 116 consecutive games for Mason and is among the top-5 all-time in Mason's history books in four categories, including third in both assists (469) and points (1,637). Derevjanik was also named to the 2004 Academic All-America Women's Basketball District III University Division First Team and went on to earn conference All-Academic accolades for her efforts in the classroom.

Derevjanik and the Mercury will be in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area on Wednesday, July 19 when Phoenix and Washington tip-off at 11:30 a.m. at the Verizon Center.