Zahui B. Earns espnW All-America Status

MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – University of Minnesota sophomore center Amanda Zahui B. today was named an espnW First Team All-American, as selected by espnW contributors. She becomes the Gophers’ first All-America first team selection since Janel McCarville in 2005 and just the fifth Gopher to earn first team honors, joining McCarville, Lindsay Whalen, Carol Ann Shudlick and Laura Coenen.

Zahui B. is a finalist for the Wooden Award, a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T and was a late-season addition to the “Wade Watch” list. The center was the media’s selection for Big Ten Player of the Year, was the lone unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team by both head coaches and media and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team.  The sophomore earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after averaging 23.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 7.0 blocks per game in two contests at the event, has twice been named the National Player of the Week by espnW and was a Big Ten Player of the Week selection four times during the regular season.

Zahui B. is averaging 18.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game and has proven to be one of the top centers in the nation this season. She has posted the top single-game marks the NCAA this season with 29 rebounds versus Iowa, 12 blocks against Penn State and a 1.000 (11-11) field goal percentage versus Purdue. Zahui B. is also one of only two players in the NCAA to post two triple-doubles on the year.

In just her sophomore season, Zahui B. is the Gophers’ all-time blocks leader with 239 career blocks, while she also broke her own program single-season blocks record of 105 blocks that she set last season as a rookie and has 134 on the year. Zahui B. became the 22nd Gopher in program history to join the 1,000-point club with 1,114 career points, while she is just the fourth Minnesota player to reach the milestone in her second year of play, joining Lindsay Whalen, Laura Coenen and Rachel Banham.

Amanda Zahui B. - 2014-15 Accolades

• espnW First Team All-American
• John R. Wooden Award National Ballot
• Naismith Trophy Semifinalist
• “Wade Watch” List
• Big Ten Player of the Year (media)
• First Team All-Big Ten (unanimous, coaches & media)
• Big Ten All-Defensive Team
• Big Ten All-Tournament Team
• 2x espnW National Player of the Week (Jan. 5, Feb. 23)
• 4x Big Ten Player of the Week (Dec. 30, Jan. 5, Feb. 2, Feb. 24)