ATLANTA, Georgia . . . Buena Vista University senior Margo Muhlbauer and Simpson College sophomore Stacey Schutjer have earned places among 40 finalists for the 2010 State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team for NCAA Division III, as announced by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Tuesday. Muhlbauer is a finalist for the second consecutive season.
The 40 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 State Farm Coaches' All-America Team. Muhlbauer was an Honorable Mention selection following her junior campaign a year ago.
Already this year, Muhlbauer, a Manilla, Iowa, native, has been named an CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American®, as well as one of 12 finalists for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, handed out annually to the top men's and women's player in Division III.
Muhlbauer led the Iowa Conference in scoring for the third straight season (22.0ppg) and near season's end became only the fourth player in IIAC history to reach 2,000 career points. Following the end of BVU's campaign, the senior was eighth in the nation in scoring. She scored at least 20 points in 20 of the team's 27 games this year, and failed to reach double-figures only twice. She made nearly 87 percent of her free-throw attempts and grabbed 5.5 rebounds per game, defensively.
In her first season as a starter, the 6-2 Schutjer, a Titonka, Iowa native, led Simpson in scoring (15.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg). She helped the Storm go 23-6, win the Iowa Conference regular season and tournament championships and advance to the second round of the NCAA Championship.
Schutjer ranked sixth in the Iowa Conference in both scoring and rebounding, earning First Team All-Iowa Conference honors. She led the league with 63 blocked shots.
Also selected as finalists from Region 8 were University of St. Thomas (Minn.) junior center Rachel Booth, Gustavus Adolphus College senior guard Brianna Radtke, and University of Puget Sound senior guard Claire Ely.
The State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team will be presented at the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship Banquet on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at The Chateau Hotel in Bloomington, Ill.
WBCA State Farm All-American Finalists
