Cal State's Wilt finalist for Kodak All-American honors

 SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State San Bernardino women's basketball star Vanessa Wilt -- the California Collegiate Athletic Association MVP for 2007-08 -- is one of 40 finalists for the coveted State Farm Coaches All-America Basketball Team.

            It is the second year in a row that Wilt has been a finalist for the award -- known then as the Kodak All-America team. She was an honorable mention in 2006-07.

            Five players from eight regions of the country make up the 40-women field voted on by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in each region.

            A 10-member all-America team will be named on March 25 at the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament banquet in Kearney, Neb.

            Joining Wilt from Region 8 (West) are Beth Christensen and Jackie Hollands of Seattle Pacific, the No. 1 team in the region and No. 2 in the nation, along with Rebecca Kielpinski of Alaska Anchorage and Audriana Spencer of CCAA champion Chico State.

            Wilt averaged 18.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots a game in 20 CCAA games to earn the conference's MVP honors by a vote of the coaches. She averaged 18 points and 9.9 rebounds a game in 2006-07 with 41 blocked shots.

            She has already smashed the team's single-season record for blocked shots with 69, giving her 110, just four blocks away from becoming the team's career leader in that category. Her 380 rebounds this season is already a new team single-season record.

            Wilt has 25 double-doubles in 28 games, leading the Coyotes to a 21-7 season thus far, 15-5 in the CCAA and a second-place finish. The team is ranked fourth in the West Region and will compete in the NCAA West Regional for the second year in a row.