By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Former Cincinnati point guard K.B. Sharp spent four excruciating hours in her White Plains, N.Y., hotel room last Wednesday afternoon, waiting, watching TV, and waiting some more.

But 27 days after she was drafted by the WNBA's New York Liberty, Sharp learned she was one of two draftees to make the team.

"I was so anxious waiting to find out. I couldn't stop thinking about it," said Sharp, who heard the news at 5 p.m.

Sharp, the Liberty's fourth pick and the 26th overall WNBA draftee, and No. 17 pick Erin Thorn (guard, Brigham Young) round out the Liberty's 11-woman roster. Draftees Sonja Mallory (center, Georgia Tech), Nicole Kaczmarski (guard) and top-pick Molly Creamer (guard, Bucknell) were cut.

Sharp was drafted April 25 and played in three preseason games. She averaged 9.3 minutes and 2 points.

Liberty coach Richie Adubato said he discovered Sharp was "an even better player" after she was drafted than he originally expected.

"K.B. won us over with her athleticism and quickness. We're looking for someone who can run the team sometime in the future," said Adubato, whose offense is engineered by veteran point guard Teresa Weatherspoon, 37.

UC coach Laurie Pirtle feared nerves might overcome Sharp, but never doubted her talent.

"I'm glad they saw in K.B. what we saw in her as a player here," Pirtle said. "It's a merit to K.B. to take her incredible talent and incredible mental toughness to that level."

Sharp said life in the WNBA is a world away from UC. Sharp, who earns just over the WNBA rookies' minimum $30,000 salary, has few living expenses.

The WNBA pays for Sharp's "digs," a New York Summerfield Suites hotel room, and supplies a car.

But the basketball part is the same, Sharp said. And nothing tops the tips she gets from Weatherspoon, Sharp's basketball hero.

"She goes out of her way to point things out for me, which really makes me feel good, " Sharp said.

The Liberty's season opens at Cleveland May 31.

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E-mail srussell@enquirer.com