May 17, 2000

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University first-year women's head basketball coach Kelly Graves has completed his staff with the addition of Cynthia Mayes and J.R. Payne, while at the same time retaining Kari Hutchinson.

Graves was named head coach of the Bulldogs last month after three seasons as head coach at Saint Mary's College.

Mayes was on Graves' staff at Saint Mary's College the past three seasons. No stranger to the West Coast Conference, Mayes graduated from Pepperdine University in 1997 where she was a 4-year letterwinner. She was a three-time WCC All-Academic pick while earning a degree in Sports Administration and a minor in Sports Medicine. She is also pursuing a master's degree in counseling.

Payne will begin her coaching career under her former collegiate coach, graduating from Saint Mary's in 1999 after helping the Gaels to their inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance. The native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, was named to the All-WCC first team as a senior and was a two-time WCC All-Tournament selection. She started 31 of her 33 appearances in 1999, averaging 9.3 ppg and a team-high 4.0 assists/game.

Hutchinson, a native of Spokane and graduate of St. George's High, joined the Bulldogs last season. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1998 and was a member of the Fighting Irish's 1997 Final Four and 1998 Sweet 16 squads.

"I'm excited about working with this staff," Graves said. "I think they possess a wealth of basketball knowledge, high energy and will relate well to student-athletes. They've played at the Division I level and know what sacrifices must be made to achieve success."