INDIANA, Pa. (March 10) – A day after being named All-America finalists by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), California University of Pennsylvania standouts
Kayla Smith (Elkins, W.Va./Elkins) and
Brooque Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry) were both selected to the Daktronics Atlantic Region First Team on Wednesday, as selected by the region’s Sports Information Directors and voting powered by ATHLETICSITE.COM.
With their first-team selections, Smith and Williams are now eligible for the Daktronics All-America Teams. For the second-straight season, Williams was the leading vote-getter in the region.
A 5-8 senior guard, Williams currently ranks second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and eighth in the country in scoring with 21.2 points per game. For the second time in three years, she leads the conference and ranks third in NCAA Division II with 3.9 steals per game. Williams also ranks among the league leaders in rebounds (8.7 per game) and minutes (34.2 per game). Last season, the Pittsburgh native was recognized as an All-American by both Daktronics and the WBCA.
Smith, a 5-11 junior forward, continues to lead the 16-team PSAC and ranks among the nation’s elite with 11.9 rebounds per game. She is one of two players in the league averaging a double-double this season, as she also averages 15.4 points per game. A dominant post player, the West Virginia native was named to the All-PSAC West First Team for the third-straight year yesterday. Smith is within reach of breaking the 10-year old school record for most rebounds in a season.
The Vulcans are the only school in the Atlantic Region to feature two players on all-region first-team. Four of the five first-team honorees are members of PSAC schools.
The remaining three Daktronics first-team all-region selections are Glenville State Donita Adams, Shippensburg senior forward Lauren Beckley and West Liberty junior guard Tori Hansen.
Cal U opens play in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 12, against Virginia State at 6 p.m. Cal U earned hosting rights for one of the two subregionals in Atlantic Regional bracket with the regional champion advancing to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo.
Daktronics First-Team All-Region
Donita Adams, Glenville State
Lauren Beckley, Shippensburg
Tori Hansen, West Liberty
Kayla Smith, California (Pa.)
Brooque Williams, California (Pa.)*
Daktronics Second-Team All-Region
Kristina Freeman, Gannon
Kasey Gardner, Shippensburg
Laura Malernee, West Liberty
Samantha Reimer, Edinboro
Ashley Vavrek, Fairmont State
* - region’s leading vote-getter