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Boston, Clark headline womens AP All-America team
FILE - South Carolinas Aliyah Boston (4) drives to the basket as UConns Dorka Juhasz (14) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Hartford, Conn. Boston was honored for the third straight year as an All-American by The Associated Press on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
FILE - South Carolinas Aliyah Boston (4) drives to the basket as UConns Dorka Juhasz (14) defends in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Hartford, Conn. Boston was honored for the third straight year as an All-American by The Associated Press on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
Aliyah Bostonis now a member of the elite three-timers club.
The South Carolina star was honored for the third straight year as an All-American by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Shes just the 10th player to earn that honor three times.
Boston was joined on the first team by Iowas Caitlin Clark, Villanovas Maddy Siegrist, LSUs Angel Reese and Indianas Mackenzie Holmes. Boston and Clark were unanimous choices by the 28-member national media panel that votes inthe AP Top 25each week.
Its the second consecutive season that a player joined the club. Kentuckys Rhyne Howarddid it last season.
South Carolinas Aja Wilson, Baylors Brittney Griner, Tennessees Chamique Holdsclaw, Dukes Alana Beard, Oklahomas Courtney Paris, Oregons Sabrina Ionescu and UConns Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore are the only other players to earn first-team honors at least three times. Paris and Moore did it four times.
Boston earned second-team All-America honors her freshman year.
Aliyah has been the best college player in, to me, as many years as shes been honored as an All-American, but definitely the past two seasons, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. I hope that we can really give her her flowers while shes still a collegiate athlete because I dont think there will be another Aliyah Boston to ever grace college womens basketball.
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Boston helped South Carolina go undefeated in the regular season and enterthe NCAA Tournamentas the top overall seed. She averaged 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game. She is a big reason the Gamecocks wentwire-to-wire as No. 1in the AP poll for the second straight season.
Clark could join the three-timers club next season. The junior once again put up eye-popping numbers averaging 27.0 points, second best in the nation. She also had 8.3 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game to help Iowa win the Big Ten Tournament title for a second consecutive year.
Its one thing to be a first team All-American, but another to receive it in back-to-back seasons, Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. Our program, university, and state is so proud of all the things she has accomplished thus far. Theres nobody more deserving than a generational player like Clark.
Clark trailed only Siegrist in scoring. The Villanova star averaged 28.9 points this season and set the career Big East scoring record. She has 984 points this season and is looking to become the fifth player ever to score over 1,000 in a season. She has scored 20-plus points in 34 consecutive games which is one short of Kelsey Plums record set in 2016-17.
Maddy is an All-American in every sense of the word and she is truly deserving of this honor, said Villanova coach Denise Dillon. On the court, the numbers she has put up this year are staggering. To lead the country in scoring and score 1,000 points in one season is amazing. We are so proud of Maddy becoming the first Associated Press All-American in program history.
Reese had a stellar season for the Tigers, averaging 23.4 points and 15.5 rebounds while shooting 54% from the field. The sophomore forward broke Sylvia Fowles school record of 20 consecutive double-doubles.
Angel Reese joined our program and has had a tremendous impact on our team, LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. She has a special skillset that sets her apart as one of the best players in the nation. She is definitely one of the top players in the country. We are excited to see what her future holds and the impact she will have on our team at LSU.
Holmes helped Indiana to one of the best seasons in school history. The Hoosiers, who finished second in the AP poll, won the Big Ten regular season title. Holmes averaged 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and shot 68.8% from the field.
Its an incredible accomplishment for a gal from Maine, Indiana coach Teri Moren said. No one is more exited and happier for her than our staff and her teammates. Its well deserved. Shes worked on her game since the day she arrived in Bloomington.
Boston, Clark, Stanfords Haley Jones, Iowa States Ashley Joens, Virginia Techs Elizabeth Kitley and DePauls Aneesah Morrow made up the preseason All-America team.
The AP second team was headlined by Kitley, who was the ACC player of the year for the second straight season. She was joined by Cameron Brink of Stanford, Diamond Miller of Maryland, Olivia Miles of Notre Dame and Alissa Pili of Utah.
The AP third team was Joens, UConns Aaliyah Edwards, Morrow, Jones and South Carolinas Zia Cooke.
Indianas Grace Berger and Florida State freshman TaNiya Latson and Louisvilles Hailey Van Lith were the leading vote-getters among players who didnt make the three All-America teams. Players earned honorable-mention status if they appeared on one of the ballots.
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