ATLANTA-The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), in cooperation with State Farm, announced the finalists for the 2009 State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II.  The 41 finalists, who are voted upon by WBCA member coaches in each of the eight WBCA geographical regions, are now in the running for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team.

The finalists are:

Region I
Catherine Carr,  Holy Family
Johannah Leedham, Franklin Pierce
Kristy McLean, Bentley
Lauren Revesz, St. Rose
Kelsey Simonds, Stonehill
         
Region 2
Kristina Freeman, Gannon
Kayla Smith, California (Pa.)
Tracey Jahzinga, Indiana (Pa.)
Jihan Williams, Charleston
Brooque Williams, California (Pa.)
         
Region 3
Anna Atkinson, Wingate
Jasmine Gunn, Tusculum
Kevina Ransom, Francis Marion
Shannon Singleton-Bates, Francis Marion
Phebe Smith, Columbus State

Region 4 
Katie Cezat, Hillsdale
Katie Wysocky , Michigan Tech
Jessica Keller, Quincy
Jessie Slack, Northern Kentucky
Megan Starnes, Northwood
         
Region 5
Sarita Cooper, Delta State
Dominic Cranford, West Georgia
Amanda Grappe, Arkansas Tech
Ashley Huff, West Georgia
Stephanie Sarosi , Nova Southeastern

Region 6
Lizzie Brenner, Central Oklahoma
Janice Bright, Washburn
Emily Brister, West Texas A&M
Ida Edwards, Emporia State
Natalie Gamez, St. Mary's
Britney Jordan, Texas A&M-Commerce
         
Region 7
Heather Johnson, Minnesota State-Mankato
Jade Meads, Nebraska-Kearney
Joanne Noreen, Minnesota State-Mankato
Katie Tacheny, St. Cloud State
Paulina Tuell, Regis
         
Region 8
Alira Carpenter, Montana State-Billings
Reyana Colson, Cal Poly-Pomona
Katie Franci, Humboldt State
Rebecca Kielpinski, Alaska-Anchorage
Michelle Osier, Cal-San Diego

*Regions with six or more finalists are a result of a tie for fifth place in the region.

The State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team will be presented at the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Banquet on Monday, March 23, 2009, at the Buckhorn Museum in San Antonio, Texas.

About State Farm
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls.  For more information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

(Source WBCA)