Tuesday, March 17, 2009

ATLANTA, Ga. (March 17, 2009) - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), in cooperation with State Farm, announced the 52 regional finalists for the 2009 State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I on Tuesday and East Tennessee State University Lady Buccaneer standout Siarre Evans (Griffin, Ga.) was named a finalist from region three.

Evans helped guide the Lady Bucs to their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance after averaging 16.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest in 30 games this season. The junior guard/forward was also named 2009 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and Atlantic Sun Tournament MVP.

The Griffin, Ga. native led the Atlantic Sun with 18 double-doubles in 2008-09, scored in double figures 27 times and posted 20 games with 10 or more rebounds. Evans also set new single-game career highs in points (35), rebounds (18), minutes played (45), three-point field goals made (6), and free throws made (9). In addition, Evans also became the 16th Lady Buccaneer player to join the 1,000-point club and she currently ranks sixth overall with 1,315 points scored.

"To have Siarre be honored as a regional finalist is such an outstanding accomplishment," commented head coach Karen Kemp. "Siarre is one of the best overall players I have ever coached and not only can she score, she rebounds, gets steals and brings a winning attitude to court each and every day."

Joining Evans from region three were Auburn's Whitney Boddie and DeWanna Bonner, Florida's Sha Brooks, Allison Hightower from LSU, Ashley Houts from Georgia and Vanderbilt's Christina Wirth.

Other notables making the final cut from different regions were Connecticut's Maya Moore and Renee Montgomery, Oklahoma's Courtney Paris, Kristi Toliver from Maryland, Rashanda McCants from North Carolina and Rutgers' Epiphanny Prince and Kia Vaughn.

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.

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. 

Please click the link above for a full listing of all 52 finalists.

About State Farm

State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com or in Canada statefarm.ca.

About the WBCA

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls.  For additional information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

For more information on Lady Buccaneer basketball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.