Cal State's Wilt earns second-team All-American honors

Cal State San Bernardino’s Vanessa Wilt has been voted to the Daktronics NCAA Division II women’s basketball all-America second team by a vote of the nation’s sports information directors.

In addition, Wilt was named a State Farm/Women’s Basketball Coach’s Association honorable mention for the second straight year despite the fact she was among the top 26 in the nation in four statistical categories.

Wilt was the only West Region player named to any of the three teams selected by the Division II sports information directors. None of the 10 all-Americans selected by the WBCA coaches committee played for West Region schools.

The 6-1 senior center from Hesperia (Sultana High School) by way of Cal Baptist led the CCAA conference in scoring (18.9 ppg), rebounding (13.4 rpg), field goal percentage (54.7) and blocked shots (71).

Wilt was in the top 12 in NCAA Division II in all four categories until very late in the season. She finished No. 2 in the nation in rebounding, No. 8 in blocked shots, No. 23 in field goal percentage and No. 26 in scoring.

 Previously this month, Wilt was named the CCAA’s most valuable player and the Daktronics West Region player of the year as well as being selected to the WBCA’s all-region first team.

Wilt had 25 double-doubles (points and rebounds) in 29 games and 36 for her two-year career at CSUSB, in which she led the Coyotes to two straight NCAA regional tournament appearances.

She was the CSUSB Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2006-07, earning first-team all-CCAA and first-team all-West Region honors, averaging 18.0 and 9.9 rebounds a game with 41 blocked shots.

She smashed the team’s single-season record for blocked shots (old mark was 59), giving her 112 in her two seasons, one shy of the all-time career record of 113.

Wilt’s 388 rebounds is a new single-season record as is her rebounds per game average (13.4). She tied the team’s single-game scoring record with 39 points against Cal State L.A.

In her two seasons, Wilt led the Coyotes to a 38-19 record and the program’s first back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances since the school moved up to Division II in 1991-92.

A good student with a 3.3 GPA, Wilt was recently voted to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA all-District 8 academic first team.

Celeste Trahan of Elizabeth City State (N.J.) was named the Daktronics Division II player of the year averaging 23.7 points and 15.9 rebounds per game, leading the nation in both categories.

The WBCA named sophomore Johanna Leedham of Franklin Pierce as its player of the year. Leedham was a third-team selection by the sports information directors on the Daktronics all-America list.

 

DAKTRONICS NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN’S HOOPS ALL-AMERICA

First team

            Lauren Beckley, So., Shippensburg

            Emily Brister, Jr., West Texas A&M

            Katie Cezat, Jr., Hillsdale

            Ashley Langen, Sr., North Dakota

            Celeste Trahan, Sr., Elizabeth City St.*

            *Player of the Year

Second team

            Vanessa Wilt, Sr., Cal State San Bernardino

            Kate Lynch, Sr., Southern Connecticut

            Jennifer Rushing, Sr. Delta State

            Michelle Stueve, Sr., Emporia State

            Sheena Walton, Sr., Tampa

Third team

            Anna Atkinson, Jr., Wingate

            Jeana Hoffman, Sr., South Dakota

            Johannah Leedham, So., Franklin Pierce

            Syretha Marble, Jr., North Georgia College

            Sarah Van Horn, Jr., West Va. Wesleyan

 

            STATE FARM/WBCA DIVISION II WOMEN’S HOOPS ALL-AMERICA

First team

            Lauren Beckley, So., Shippensburg

            Katie Cezat, Jr., Hillsdale

            Jeana Hoffman, Sr., South Dakota

            Kierah Kimbrough, Jr., North Dakota

            Johannah Leedham, So., Franklin Pierce*

            Kate Lynch, Sr., Southern Connecticut

            Jennifer Rushing, Sr., Delta State

            Michelle Stueve, Sr., Emporia State

            Jahzinga Tracey, Jr., Indiana U (Pa.)

            Celeste Trahan, Sr., Elizabeth City St.

            *Player of the Year

Honorable Mention

            Vanessa Wilt, Sr., Cal State San Bernardino and 30 others.