Amanda Barksdale Class: Senior Hometown: Friendswood, Texas High School: Clear Brook Height: 6-3 Position: Forward

AS A JUNIOR:
The only returning player up front ... will be vying for the starting job at center this season ... came off the bench last a year ago and provided the Irish with strong minutes in the second half of the season ... proved to be a strong player around the basket and in the post ... a terrific shot-blocking talent and an imposing force inside ... increased her strength considerably last season ... has a tremendous work ethic ... a strong defensive player and rebounder.

AS A SOPHOMORE:
Ranked on the team in blocked shots (58) and was third in the BIG EAST in that category with 1.7 per game ... along with Ruth Riley, comprised one of the best shot-blocking tandems in the country as the two combined for 171 blocked shots ... averaged 1.4 points and 2.4 rebound during the season while playing in 35 contests ... provided big lift off bench in BIG EAST championships with best basketball of her career ... turned in back-to-back career-high nine-rebound games vs. Georgetown and Virginia Tech ... also had six blocks, two points, one steal, one assists and no turnovers in career-high 22 minutes vs. the Hoyas ... had six points and blocked three shots vs. the Hokies in the semifinals ... played seven minutes in championship game ... scored four points and blocked four shots in 20 minutes against Arizona ... had a career-high six blocks against Fordham to go along with four points ... four blocks in 13 minutes of action vs. St. John's ... matched season-high with four points in nine minutes vs. Miami ... had six rebounds in 14 minutes of action at Pittsburgh ... also blocked three Panther shots in that game ... second on team in blocks with 55 on the season ... has seen action in every game except one (Purdue) ... strong asset during the 1st and 2nd round of the NCAA tournament ... set or matched six season/career highs against Alcorn State by scoring 10 points, 11 rebounds - the first double double of her career ... played 15 minutes against Michigan, scoring five points and pulling down seven boards.

AS A FRESHMAN:
Played in 28 games during her rookie season and saw action in all three NCAA tournament contests versus San Diego, George Washington and Texas Tech ... scored seven points and blocked a career-high seven shots against Providence ... had career highs of eight points and eight rebounds in addition to five blocked shots in second meeting with Georgetown ... also played a season-high 17 minutes in the contest ... scored four points in win over Michigan State ... grabbed four rebounds versus West Virginia ... blocked four shots, grabbed two rebounds and played 13 minutes against St. John’s in first meeting ... in second game versus Red Storm, scored two points, grabbed four rebounds, dished off two assists and made two steals ... had three blocked shots and three rebounds against Butler ... blocked two shots against Liberty, Michigan State and USC ... ranked second on the team with 33 blocked shots ... averaged 1.1 points and 1.2 rebounds.

PREP AND PERSONAL DATA:
Ranked as one of the top 100 high school seniors ... record-setting shot-blocker in the Houston area as a junior and senior with 273 and 281, respectively ... both totals established new single-season marks for girls scholastic basketball in Houston ... averaged 8.0 blocks per game at Clear Brook during her senior season ... in addition, she netted 8.4 points and 7.1 rebounds ... three-year starter, she led Clear Brook High School to a 71-28 overall record and 34-4 conference mark ... team won two conference titles in 1997 and 1998 with the 1997-98 squad finishing undefeated ... posted career averages of 8.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.3 blocks ... copped Clear Creek Independent District MVP honors as a junior and was a first-team all-district selection in her final two scholastic campaigns ... was a two-time league Defensive MVP and was the league’s Offensive MVP following her sophomore season ... served as team captain during her final scholastic campaign ... best all-around performance came against rival Friendswood High school as she scored 20 points, blocked 10 shots and grabbed six rebounds ... registered a triple-double against C.E King with final totals of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks ... played AAU basketball for Houston Hotshots Gold Team for five years and helped that team advance to the nationals in each season she played with the squad ... from the same hometown as former Irish men’s basketball player Derek Manner ... sister Stephanie plays basketball at Fayetteville State, while cousin Keith Hughes also plays basketball there ... born March 4, 1981.

Barksdale’s Career Statistics

Year	GP-GS	FG-FGA	Pct.	3FG-FGA	Pct.	FTM-FTA	Pct.	OR	DR	TR	Avg.	A	TO	BLK	S	PF-D	Min-Avg.	Pts	Avg.
1999-00	28-0	11-27	40.7	0-0	---	9-16	56.2	6	27	33	1.2	4	12	34	5	26-0	145-5.4	31	1.1
2000-01	35-0	16-54	29.6	0-0	---	17-33	51.5	25	52	77	2.2	5	17	58	6	40-0	286-8.2	49	1.4
Totals	63-0	27-81	33.3	0-0	---	26-49	53.1	31	79	110	1.7	9	29	92	11	66-0	432-6.9	80	1.3