ATLANTA, GA  (UWSP)  -  The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point senior guard Sam Barber (Schofield, WI/D.C. Everest/Winona St.) is one of three finalists for the 2013 State Farm®/WBCA NCAA Division III Player of the Year award.  

Barber joins Carissa Verkaik (Calvin) and Kate Nielsen (Simpson) as finalists for the award, presented annually to the top player in each of five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school).

The winner will be announced during the third annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 8, in New Orleans held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four®. 

“The WBCA is pleased to name Sam, Carissa and Kate as the finalists for the 2013 State Farm/WBCA Division III Player of the Year award,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “These players have had an exceptional year and have been role models for the other members on their teams, as well as in their conferences.  I wish these young women good luck at the WBCA Awards Show in New Orleans.”

”State Farm is proud of the achievement of these amazing women,” said Pam El, marketing vice president for State Farm. “We are happy to support this outstanding program that celebrates their hard work and dedication.”

Barber was also named one of 10 WBCA First Team All-Americans honored by the organization. A WBCA Honorable Mention All-American a season ago, the back-to-back Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year led the Pointers to a 24-6 overall record and the program's sixth straight conference tournament title. The First Team D3hoops.com All-Central Region honoree started all 30 games for the Pointers, averaging a team-high 19.1 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds. She connected on 43.6 percent of her shots from 3-point range, 49.1 percent of her field goals and 78.3 percent from the free-throw line. She also recorded 57 steals, 43 assists and 32 blocked shots. 

A transfer from Winona State, Barber spent three seasons in a Pointers uniform, collecting 1,238 points at UWSP, finishing her career with 1,329 points total. She played in 85 career games at UWSP, starting 57, and averaged 24.2 minutes per appearance. She had a career shooting percentage of .468 and shot .431 from 3-point range. 

2013 WBCA Division III Coaches' All-America Team 

Name     Institution    Year         Pos. Height

Claire Baecher,  Williams College Sr. F 6-3

Sam Barber ,(Schofield, WI/D.C. Everest/Winona St.) University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Sr. G 5-9

Sarah Collins, Babson College Sr. C 6-2

Natosha Gottlieb, Louisiana College Sr. F 5-9

Dori Gyori, Messiah College Sr. F/C 6-2

Cydni Matsuoka, Vassar College Jr. G 5-4

Kate Nielsen, Simpson College Sr. F 5-11

Carissa Verkaik, Calvin College Sr. C 6-2

Kristina Williams, Lewis & Clark College Sr. G 5-9

Jill Woerner, Catholic University of America Sr. G 5-11  

“Congratulations to the 10 members of the 2013 DIII Coaches' All-American Team,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “These student-athletes have a demanding schedule and they are able to elevate their game above the rest night in and night out and are deserving of such recognition.” The following have been recognized as WBCA Division III Coaches' All-America Team Honorable Mentions: 

Name      Institution    Year Pos.   Height

Tesla Akers, Ferrum College     Sr. G 5-6

Lauren Avant, Rhodes College     Jr. G 5-10

Alexa Barbush, Franklin & Marshall College     Sr. G 5-7

Floriana Borova, William Patterson University     Jr. G 5-9

Makenzie Branson, Occidental College     Sr. G 5-11

Kathryn Campbell, Ithaca College     Sr. G 5-9

Kate Dellinger, Widener University     Sr. G 5-7

Katelyn Fischer, Marymount University     Sr. G 5-7

Melissa Gilkey, Washington University     So. F 6-1

Melissa Graham, State University College at Geneseo     Sr. G 5-10

Brittany Hicks, York College     Jr. F 5-10

Misha Jackson, Emory University     Sr. C 5-11

Cortney Kumerow, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater     Sr. C 6-1

Stephanie Kuzmanic, Carthage College     Jr. G 5-8

Rosa LaMattina, University of Mount Union     Sr. G 5-7

Allison Long, Thomas More College     Sr. G 5-5

Katie Lytle, Swarthmore College     Jr. G 5-9

Janell Menard, Maryville College     Sr. G 5-9

Fiona O'Dwyer, Emmanuel College     Sr. F 5-11

Brooke Olson, Wheaton College (Ill.)     Sr. G 5-9

Joanna Snyder, Ohio Northern University     Sr. F 5-11

Tricia Sorensen, Concordia College, Moorhead     Sr. F 5-11

Beth Suggs, University of New England     Sr. F 6-0

Melissa Tobie, Montclair State University     So. F 6-1

Marcia Voigt, Montclair State University     So. F 6-1

Kate Walker, DePauw University     Sr. G 5-6

Sarah Wetmore, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute     Sr. G 5-9

Mollie Whiting, University of Dubuque     Sr. G 5-6

Alexis Wright, Moravian College     So. F 5-11

Ally Zywicki, University of Rochester     So. G 5-6

About the WBCA:Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.