March 16, 2010
ATLANTA - Texas A&M's Tanisha Smith were among 52 regional NCAA Division I finalists for the prestigious 2010 State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team as announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on Tuesday.
Adams, a 6-foot-1 junior combination forward/center from Kansas City, Mo., was honored as Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as the Most Outstanding Player leading the ninth-ranked Aggies to the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship title in Kansas City. One of the rising stars in the country, the All-Big 12 Second Team selection is averaging a team-leading 16.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Adams became only the second A&M player in school history and 10th all-time player in league history to register a triple-double with a career-high 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Texas Tech on Jan. 23 earning her a nod as Big 12 Player of the Week. She is currently on a seven-game double-digit scoring streak with six 20-point outings this season.
Smith, a six-foot combination guard/forward from Kansas City, Mo., earned a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team this past season averaging 15.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. One of the top players in the country, she was selected to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2009 during her junior campaign. Smith currently ranks 10th-best among league scoring leaders, eighth in assists (3.5 avg) and second in steals (2.2 avg). She garnered Big 12 Player of the Week honors on Dec. 7 after leading the Aggies to a 3-0 week and being named the Colliers International Classic tournament MVP at Cal. Smith has registered four career double-doubles and scored a career-high 30 points versus Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 2, which marked the most points ever scored by an Aggie in the Gary Blair Era.
Adams and Smith were joined in Region 5 by Nebraska's Kelsey Griffin, Baylor's Brittney Griner, Iowa State's Alison Lacey, Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley and Oklahoma's Danielle Robinson.
The 40 finalists will all be in the running for selection to the 10-member State Farm Coaches' All-America Team which will be announced on Saturday, April 3 as a part of the NCAA Women's Final Four Super Saturday events held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.