March 28, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s basketball junior guard A’dia Mathies was named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America Team, becoming the second Wildcat to ever earn the honor, as announced by the committee Wednesday.
Mathies joins Victoria Dunlap as the only Kentucky player to ever be selected to the famed All-America roster. The USBWA Women’s All-America Team represents the 10 best players, regardless of position, as selected by representatives of the USBWA. The 10 members of the All-America Team are finalists for the USBWA National Player of the Year award, which will be announced April 3.
A Louisville, Ky., native, Mathies is one of seven conference players of the year, and one of four who was chosen as the USBWA National Player of the Week.
Joining Mathies as a USBWA All-American was Elena Delle Donne (Delaware), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Chelsea Gray (Duke), Brittney Griner (Baylor), Shenise Johnson (Miami), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Stanford), Samantha Prahalis (Ohio State), Odyssey Sims (Baylor) and Alyssa Thomas (Maryland). Mathies was the Southeastern Conference’s lone representative on the team.
Mathies was also named a third team All-American by The Associated Press on Tuesday. Also named to the third team was Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford), Sims, Johnson, Prahalis and Julie Wotja (Green Bay).
The SEC Player of the Year led Kentucky in scoring (15 points per game), assists (2.7 per game), steals (2.6 per game) and 3-point field goal percentage (.378). She also ranked second on the team in rebounds (5.1 per game) and 3-point field goals made (51), and third in blocks (21). She ranks 12th on the all-time scoring list at UK with 1,435 career points and is sixth on the career steals list with 251.
Mathies and the Wildcats saw their season come to an end Tuesday after an 80-65 loss to top-seeded Connecticut. It was Kentucky’s second trip to the Elite Eight in the last three years, and third trip in program history.
Kentucky returns eight of nine starters next season, and will also welcome back sophomore guard Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.), who sat out the 2011-12 season due to injury, and welcome in All-Pac-10 selection DeNesha Stallworth (Richmond, Calif.), who sat out the 2011-12 season due to transfer regulations. Also joining UK Hoops next season will be freshman McDonald’s All-American Janee Thompson (Chicago).
