Printer-Friendly Format   E-mail this article     Wanda Burns-Jackson was inducted in the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame last fall.
	Women's Basketball Home HEADLINES Monroe and USA Women Set to Face Russia for Gold Medal at 2009 World University Games Florida State Men's And Women's Basketball Teams To Play Abroad Courtesy Of Nike Czech Mate: Monroe, USA Women Move on to 2009 World University Games Semifinal RELATED LINKS • Follow all of the college basketball action at CollegeSports.com • Email this to a friend

FSU will retire the jersey's of Seminole greats Tia Paschal and Wanda Burns at halftime of FSU-UVA Sunday.

Jan. 26, 2007

Florida State will honor the careers of Seminole greats Tia Paschal and Wanda Burns-Jackson at halftime of the FSU-Virginia women's basketball game Sunday, January 28th at 2 p.m.

The Florida State women's basketball program enjoyed its greatest success during the four-year career of Tia Paschal, who lettered for the Seminoles from 1989 to 1993.  A forward from Thomson, Ga., Paschal was an immediate contributor and was a three-year starter after averaging 20 minutes of play as a rookie. She ended her career averaging 19.4 points and 7.4 rebounds as a senior while earning first team All-ACC honors and second team All-America honors by the American Women's Sports Federation.  During her career, she helped lead the Seminoles to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 1989-90 and 1990-91 as well as a Metro Conference championship in the 1990-91 season.

Paschal's versatility made her a weapon in every facet of the game. She still holds the records free throws made (14) in a game and career steals (269).  Paschal is among FSU's top 10 in five season and six career records and ranks second all-time in scoring with 1,662 points. 

Honors came in abundance for Paschal throughout her career.  After redshirting the 1988-89 season with a knee injury, Paschal took the conference by storm as a freshman, earning Metro Conference All-Rookie Team honors.  She earned Metro All-Tournament Team honors two seasons and was twice named the conference Player of the Week. 

Paschal continued playing the game that she loves professionally. Paschal's professional overseas experience included stops in Germany, Sweden and Spain. She also played one season with the Charlotte Sting of the WNBA. Tia received yet another honor when she was inducted into the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2002, she was named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team for women's basketball.

Today, Tia works for IBM where she is a project manager overseeing security for five buildings in Atlanta. She still plays in women's basketball leagues in Atlanta and frequents LA Fitness Club where she plays ball and beats up on the boys.

Wanda Burns overcame adversity to become a successful women's basketball player at Florida State. One of Marynell Meadors first recruits, Burns was a highly-touted 5-8 guard out of Macon, Georgia.

Though she carried a 3.0 GPA in high school, her SAT scores were below the required score to meet the new NCAA Prop 48 rule and she had to sit out her freshman season.  Burns used the year to hit the books and get acclimated to campus life. 

She hit the court in 1988-89 with something to prove. She averaged 11 points a game and led the team with 92 assists, helping FSU to its first winning season since 1983.

She electrified the team in 1989-90 and sparked FSU to a 21-9 record and to the NCAA Tournament.  Burns set an FSU record for free throw percentage and led the team in scoring, three pointers and steals.

In 1990-91, her final season, Burns was named Metro Conference Player of the Week, set a single game record with 10 steals in a game and led the team in three-point shooting.  FSU enjoyed one of its most successful seasons with a record of 25-7.  Burns led the Metro Conference in scoring at 18.5 points per game and scored double figures in 38 consecutive games. She was named Metro Conference Tournament MVP and Player of the Year and also earned Hanes Her Way NCAA Woman of the Year and Second Team All-American honors.

Burns still ranks among FSU's top 10 in four career and 11 single-season statistical categories. Last fall, she was inducted in the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame.

Burns-Jackson now works with the Secretary of State Office. She and her husband Andre Jackson are raising their two children Constance and Andre Jr.  In December, Wanda completed her master's degree in counseling and psychology with a focus on rehabilitation.