ATLANTA (March 9) – For the second-straight year, California University of Pennsylvania senior guard
Brooque Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry) and junior forward
Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) were announced as State Farm Coaches’ All-America Finalists by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Tuesday.
Smith and Williams are two of 40 national finalists and are now eligible for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team. The finalists were voted upon by WBCA member coaches in each of the eight geographical regions.
A WBCA All-American last year, Williams is among the premier scorers in the country, ranking second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and eighth nationally with 21.2 points per game. She also leads the league and is third in country with 3.9 steals per game. Recently, Williams joined a select group of players in NCAA Division II history that has reached both 2,000-point, 1,000-rebounds milestone in a career.
Smith is one of the elite post players in the country, averaging a double-double with 15.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The 5-11 forward currently leads the PSAC and ranks fourth in the nation in rebounds, while also ranking among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (50.3 percent; 1569-of-336), blocks (1.5 per game) and minutes (34.1 per game). She has posted an amazing 23 double-doubles in 30 games this season and is within reach of setting the single-season school record for rebounds.
Cal U is a member of Region 2 and is one of only six schools in the country to feature two players on the five-player regional list of finalists. All five of the finalists from Region 2 are members of PSAC schools.
The remaining three WBCA Region 2 All-America finalists are Shippensburg senior forward Lauren Beckley, Gannon senior guard Kristina Freeman and Gannon forward Brittany Tabron.
The Vulcans open play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 12, against the Virginia State at 6 p.m. Cal U earned hosting rights for one of the two subregionals in Atlantic Regional bracket with the regional champion advancing to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo.