March 17, 2009
ATLANTA - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), in cooperation with State Farm, announced on Tuesday that Maryland seniors Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver are among the 52 regional finalists for the 2009 State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team for NCAA Division I.
The State Farm Coaches' All-America Team selection committee will review these 52 candidates and cut the list to 40 finalists on Thursday, March 25. The 40 finalists will all be in the running for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches' All-America Team.
Toliver, a Harrisonburg, Va., native, is looking for her second consecutive State Farm All-American honor. The 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year, Toliver leads the third-ranked Terrapins in scoring (18.4 ppg), assists (5.0 apg) and 3-point shooting (42.3 pct).
Toliver and Coleman, both first team All-ACC picks, look to become the second straight pair of Terps to be named State Farm All-Americans after Toliver and first-round WNBA selection Crystal Langhorne made the squad in 2008.
Coleman has been arguably the hottest player in the nation the last month of the season, leading Maryland in its current 12-game win streak heading into the NCAA Tournament. Coleman claimed the last three ACC Player of the Week awards and was named ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player after propelling Maryland to its first ACC regular-season and tournament titles in 20 years.
The Cheltenham, Md., product scores 17.7 points per game and pulls down 8.1 rebounds per contest. Coleman ranks second in Maryland history in scoring and rebounding.
The duo has also reached the 2,000-point plateaus for their careers, to become the first set of teammates to play in a game together with as many points since 1984 (USC's Paula and Pam McGee). Both are also finalists for the Wade Trophy, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award.
The other five Region II finalists all came from the ACC and include Chante Black (Duke), Lyndra Littles (Virginia), Rashanda McCants (UNC), Carolyn Swords (Boston College) and Monica Wright (Virginia).
The State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team for NCAA Division I will be announced at the State Farm Coaches' All-America Team Press Conference at the Renaissance Grand and Suites Hotel on April 4, at 9:45 a.m. CT in St. Louis, Mo.
