Vandersloot 2nd team All-American
Courtney Vandersloot achieved another milestone on Tuesday, becoming the first Gonzaga women’s basketball player to earn Associated Press Second-team All-American honors.
Vandersloot, who led the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight, where their magic season was derailed by top-seed Stanford 83-60 Monday night at the Arena, was honorable mention the past two years.
She is the first male or female in NCAA history to accumulate more than 2,000 points and 1,000 assists, finishing with 2,073 points and 1,118 assists.
Voting was done prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament, when Vandersloot increased her national exposure by averaging 29.25 points and 10 assists in four games. The 40 AP members who vote in the Top 25 poll, which had Gonzaga 20th, voted for three teams.
The only guard on the first team is Jeanette Pohlen of Stanford. Forward Maya Moore of Connecticut is only the second four-time first-team pick. She is joined by Baylor center Brittney Griner,
Joining Vandersloot on the second team are Duke guard Jasmine Thomas, Oklahoma guard Danielle Robinson, Stanford forward Nnemka Ogwumike and Xavier forward Amber Harris.
Vandersloot, who led the nation for assists for a second straight season, setting the NCAA single-season assist record in the process, earlier was named the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner as the best player 5-foot-8 or shorter.
Earlier she was named the WCC Player of the Year and WCC Tournament MVP for the third consecutive year.
She is also one of 12 finalist for the Wade Trophy, one of 20 finalists for the State Farm Coach’s All-America team, finalist for the Wooden Award and All-America team and finalist for the Lieberman Award as the top point guard.
The third team includes Shekinna Strickland of