Carson and Vaughn Named Kodak/WBCA Region I All-America
Mar 08 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), in cooperation with Eastman Kodak Company, announced the finalists on Thursday for the 2007 Division I Kodak/WBCA All-America Basketball Team, which included Rutgers junior forward Essence Carson and sophomore center Kia Vaughn.
The 52 finalists, who are voted upon by WBCA-member coaches in each of the eight WBCA geographical regions, are now in the running for selection to the 10-member Kodak/WBCA All-America Team.
Along with the two Scarlet Knights candidates, Notre Dame's Charel Allen, South Florida's Jessica Dickson, Louisville's Angel McCoughtry, Pittsburgh's Marcedes Walker and Temple's Kamesha Hairston were selected to the Region I squad. Rounding out the nine-member team were
Carson, a junior from Paterson, N.J., was named the 2007 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in a vote among the league's head coaches and announced last week. She captured the award for the second-straight season, while also being named First Team All-BIG EAST.
The forward helped lead her Scarlet Knights to their first-ever BIG EAST Championship title on Tuesday evening with a thrilling 55-47 victory over No. 2/2 UConn.
Vaughn rose to the occasion in just her second season of collegiate play, blocking 80 shots. The number is the second-best in a single season in the RU record book and in her short career Vaughn has registered 148 rejections. On the season, the First Team All-BIG EAST selection is averaging 12.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.
With her 9.6 rebounds per contest (second in the BIG EAST), Vaughn has posted the most boards by an RU player in a single season since 1993-94. She leads
The duo spearheaded an RU defense which held 15 opponents to under 50 points and five under 40 points.
Next up for the No. 19/19 Scarlet Knights is the NCAA Tournament. The field for the 2007 Tournament will be set on Monday, March 12 at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN. Fans are invited to attend a selection show event at the
Region I
Name Institution Year Pos. Height
Charel Allen University of Notre Dame Jr. G 5-11
Essence Carson Rutgers University Jr. F 6-1
Tina Charles University of Connecticut Fr. C 6-4
Jessica Dickson University of South Florida Sr. F 5-11
Kamesha Hairston Temple University Sr. F 6-0
Angela McCoughtry University of Lousiville So. F 6-1
Renee Montgomery University of Connecticut So. G 5-7
Kia Vaughn Rutgers University So. C 6-4
Marcedes Walker University of Pittsburgh Jr. C 6-3
