ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

ATHLETICS 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2008
Contact: Ben Greenberg, SID (479) 968-0645

AMANDA GRAPPE NAMED HONORABLE MENTION WBCA NCAA DIVISION II STATE FARM COACHES' ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION

        ATLANTA, Georgia – Arkansas Tech’s Amanda Grappe was named an Honorable Mention NCAA Division II WBCA State Farm All-America selection on Tuesday during the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Banquet in Kearney, Neb.

 Grappe, who was one of 40 finalists from the eight WBCA award regions for All-America honors, becomes Tech’s first All-America selection since former Golden Sun Jennifer Richardson was honored in 1996-97.

“Amanda Grappe had an outstanding season for our basketball team and is truly deserving of All-American honors,” Golden Suns Head Coach Dave Wilbers said. “Her play was one of the reasons for our successful season.”

Grappe, a junior forward from Benton, Ark., earns Honorable Mention All-America honors after averaging 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and shot 48 percent from the field and 79 percent from the free throw line. In addition, she recorded 11 double-doubles and scored in double figures in 28 of her 32 games and scored 20 or more points in 13 games, including a career-high 36 points in Tech’s 82-61 win over Tuskegee in the first round of the NCAA D-II South Regional in Cleveland, Miss.

          In addition to her strong play during the regular season, Grappe was more impressive in postseason play as she averaged 23.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and shot 52 percent from the floor and 88 percent at the free throw line in Tech’s five postseason contests.

          Along with her Honorable Mention WBCA All-America honor, Grappe was also been named a First-Team All-GSC West Division selection, a GSC All-Tournament Team honoree, a Daktronics First-Team All-South Region honoree and was named to the NCAA D-II South Regional All-Tournament team.

          Listed below are the 10 First-Team NCAA Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team and the list of Honorable Mention All-America selections.   

          Player

School

  Yr.

 Pos.  

  Hgt.

         Lauren Beckley Shippensburg [PA] So. F 5-11

         Katie Cezat

Hillsdale College

Jr.

F

6-0

         Jeana Hoffman

University of South Dakota

Sr.

G

5-7

         Kierah Kimbrough

University of North Dakota

Jr.

F

6-0

         Johannah Leedham

Franklin Pierce

So.

F

5-11

         Kate Lynch

Southern Conn. State Univ.

Sr.

F

5-10

         Jennifer Rushing

Delta State University

Sr.

G

5-8

         Michelle Stueve

Emporia State University

Sr.

F

6-2

         Jahzinga Tracey

Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania

Jr.

G

6-1

         Celeste Trahan

Elizabeth City State University

Sr.

C

6-2

The following have been recognized as State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team Honorable Mentions for NCAA Division II:

          Player

School

  Yr.

 Pos. 

  Hgt.

          Nikki Anthony

Anderson University

Sr.

C

6-2

          Anna Atkinson

Wingate University

Jr.

G

5-6

          Amanda Behnke

Concordia University, St. Paul

Sr.

C

6-2

          Emily Brister

West Texas A&M University

Jr.

G

5-9

          Molly Carter

Drury University

Sr.

G

5-6

          Beth Christensen

Seattle Pacific University

Sr.

G

5-5

          Rachel Folcik

Ferris State University

Sr.

F/C

6-1

          Tiara Good

Lander University

Sr.

G

5-10

          Amanda Grappe

Arkansas Tech

Jr.

F

6-0

          Angela Healy

Northern Kentucky

Sr.

C

6-1

          Jackie Hollands

Seattle Pacific University

Sr.

G

5-9

          Britney Jordan

TAMU-Commerce

Jr.

G

5-8

          Rebecca Kielpinski

Alaska Anchorage

Jr.

C

6-2

          Ashley Langen

North Dakota

Sr.

C

6-2

          Katie LaViolette

Concordia University, St. Paul

Sr.

G

5-9

          Syretha Marble

No. Ga. College & State Univ.

Jr.

G/F

5-9

          Lakeisha Monroe

Mount Olive College

Sr.

G

5-5

          Stephany Neptune

Tusculum College

So.

F

5-9

          Carley Peterson

Valdosta State University

Sr.

G

5-9

          Bethany Plasski

Assumption College   

Jr.

G

5-6

          Amber Shelton

SIU-Edwardsville

Sr.

F

5-10

          Kelsey Simonds

Stonehill College

Jr.

C

6-3

          Erika Souza

Southwest Baptist University

Sr.

G

5-6

          Audriana Spencer

Cal State-Chico

Sr.

G

5-9

          Corkey Stiger

Washburn University

Sr.

G

5-9

          Erika Stupinski

Stonehill College

Sr.

G

5-9

          Sarah Van Horn

West Virginia Wesleyan

Jr.

F

5-11

          Sheena Walton

University of Tampa

Sr.

C

6-1

          Ashton Washington

West Alabama

Sr.

F

6-0

          Vanessa Wilt

Cal State San Bernardino

Sr.

C

6-1

 -- Tech Athletics --