Schweitzer Selected USBWA All-America; Beard Freshman of the Year

ST. LOUIS (March 23) - Duke's Alana Beard ran away with balloting for the national freshman of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association. The 5-11 forward from Frierson, La., has led the Blue Devils in scoring, assists and steals this season.

Notre Dame center Ruth Riley and Fighting Irish coach Muffet McGraw were named national player and coach of the year, respectively.

Riley, a 6-foot-5 center from Macy, Ind., was the strong favorite in balloting by USBWA members, with Southwest Missouri State guard Jackie Stiles finishing second. Both were selected to the 10-member All-America team.

McGraw, in her 14th season at Notre Dame, also was a near-unanimous choice, with Oklahoma's Sherri Coale also earning consideration. The Irish, 30-2, are the No. 1 seed going into this weekend's NCAA Midwest Regionals in Denver against Utah.

Three players from last year's All-American squad are making return appearances. Although their college careers were ended in mid-season, Svetlana Abrosimova of Connecticut and Tamika Catchings of Tennessee were named to the team. Catchings, last season's USBWA national player of the year, was chosen for the third straight year, as was Kelly Miller of Georgia.

Among the newcomers are Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales, the Big 12 player of the year, ACC player of the year Georgia Schweitzer of Duke, Big 10 player of the year Katie Douglas and Stiles, who became the NCAA's all-time scoring leader earlier this month. Riley, Iowa State center Angie Welle and Vanderbilt center Chantelle Anderson also were selected for the first time.

The honorees will be recognized during the USBWA awards brunch on Sunday, April 1, at the Women's Final Four in St. Louis.

2000-2001 U.S. Basketball Writers Association's women's All-America team
Svetlana Abrosimova, Connecticut
Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt
Tamika Catchings, Tennessee
Stacey Dales, Oklahoma
Katie Douglas, Purdue
Kelly Miller, Georgia
Ruth Riley, Notre Dame
Georgia Schweitzer, Duke
Jackie Stiles, Southwest Missouri State
Angie Welle, Iowa State

PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Ruth Riley, Notre Dame
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Muffett McGraw, Notre Dame
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR -- Alana Beard, Duke