Catchings Leads U.S. Basketball Writers' All-America Team
3/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Tennessee junior forward Tamika Catchings headlines the United States Basketball Writers Association's 1999-2000 women's All-America team announced on Wednesday, March 22. Catchings, a 6-1 junior forward from Duncanville, Texas, edged Georgia point guard Kelly Miller for National Player of the Year accolades. Miller is a member of the 10-player team, which includes two repeat winners from last year, Catchings and Connecticut's Svetlana Abrosimova. Catchings is the leading scorer for the #2-ranked Tennessee Lady Volunteers, who play Virginia Saturday in the Sweet 16 as one of the favorites for the national championship.
Georgia coach Andy Landers was named National Coach of the Year for the second time, and Mississippi State forward LaToya Thomas was named national Freshman of the Year as the Southeastern Conference swept the top individual honors.
Only two seniors grace the team - Texas forward Edwina Brown and Oklahoma forward Phylesha Whaley. The remainder of the squad also includes Purdue forward Katie Douglas, Louisiana Tech guard Betty Lennox, Connecticut guard Shea Ralph, Notre Dame center Ruth Riley and Southwest Missouri State guard Jackie Stiles.
Landers, who was USBWA Coach of the Year in 1987, got the nod over Connecticut's Geno Auriemma in close balloting. The Lady Bulldogs, who at 31-3 have set a school record for victories in a season, are the No. 1 seed in the West and meet North Carolina on Saturday.
Thomas, from Greenville, Miss., became the first freshman to lead the SEC in scoring. Mississippi State enjoyed its best season ever, reaching the SEC Tournament championship game before being eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
1999-2000 USBWA WOMEN'S ALL-AMERICA TEAM Svetlana Abrosimova Connecticut Edwina Brown Texas Tamika Catchings TENNESSEE Katie Douglas Purdue Betty Lennox Louisiana Tech Kelly Miller Georgia Shea Ralph Connecticut Ruth Riley Notre Dame Jackie Stiles Southwest Missouri State Phylesha Whaley Oklahoma NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR Tamika Catchings TENNESSEE NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR LaToya Thomas Mississippi State NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR Andy Landers Georgia
