April 2, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Stanford junior forward Nnemkadi Ogwumike was named to the State Farm Coaches' All-America Team for the second consecutive season Saturday. The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced the 2011 All-America Team at a press conference at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis, site of the 2011 Women's Final Four.
The announcement marks back-to-back WBCA All-America selections for the Cypress, Texas native. She also becomes Stanford's seventh player to receive at least two WBCA All-America selections, joining Candice Wiggins (2005-08), Nicole Powell (2002-04), Jennifer Azzi (1989-90), Val Whiting (1992-93), Kate Starbird (1996-97) and Jayne Appel (2009-10).
Ogwumike earned her second straight All-America honor thanks in part to a season effort that leads the Pac-10 with 17.0 points per game and a 58.3 shooting percentage. In the national spotlight that is the NCAA Tournament, she has averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 61.4 percent from the field over Stanford's first four wins, leading the Cardinal to a fourth straight Final Four appearance and 10th overall.
In Spokane last weekend, Ogwumike earned her second straight Regional Most Outstanding Player honor following March 28's 83-60 win over Gonzaga. Ogwumike averaged 21.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 55.2 percent from the field over Stanford's wins against North Carolina and Gonzaga. She settled all doubts that she'd take home the honor with a 23-point, 11-rebound effort on 9-of-11 shooting in the win over the Zags.
Saturday's announcement also represented the fourth All-America honor of the season for Ogwumike. She earned spots on the All-America teams of the John R. Wooden Award and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), as well as a second-team spot from the Associated Press.
Ogwumike is joined on the 10-player State Farm Coaches' All-America Team by Danielle Adams (Texas A&M), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Brittney Griner (Baylor), Amber Harris (Xavier), Shenise Johnson (Miami), Jantel Lavender (Ohio State), Maya Moore (Connecticut), Shekinna Stricklen (Tennessee) and Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga).
Ogwumike and the Cardinal begin play in this weekend's Final Four Sunday at 4 p.m. PT against No. 2 Texas A&M at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.