Whether or not she delivers a national championship, Courtney Paris will leave Oklahoma with quite a legacy: the only four-time All-American in women’s college basketball.
Whether or not she delivers a national championship, Courtney Paris will leave Oklahoma with quite a legacy: the only four-time All-American in women’s college basketball.
“I’m truly honored to be the first,” said Paris, who already holds 18 NCAA records. “I’m sure that will happen with Maya Moore in the next couple of years.”
The sensational sophomore Moore is on pace to join the Oklahoma center in two years after making The Associated Press’ All-America team for the second consecutive season Tuesday. She was joined by UConn teammate Renee Montgomery, marking the first time since 2000 that two players from the same school made the first team.
“It is nice because whenever you get recognized, you always want your teammates to get recognized also because you know you wouldn’t be here without them,” Montgomery said. “To have another teammate on a team like this makes you feel good.”
Angel McCoughtry of Louisville and Kristi Toliver of Maryland rounded out the first team.
“That is some squad,” Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said. “They have athleticism, skill and toughness.”
Moore received 225 points and was the only unanimous choice among the 45-member national media panel that votes in the weekly Top 25. The voting was done before the start of the NCAA tournament.
Moore helped lead Connecticut to its fourth undefeated regular season, averaging 19.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. She could join Paris, Chamique Holdsclaw of Tennessee and Alana Beard of Duke as the only three-time All-Americans.
“It’s a great honor. There’s a lot of talent around the country,” Moore said. “Women’s basketball has come so far. The last two years have been amazing and to be able to come in and be able to be myself on such a great team.”
Montgomery was the heart of that team, averaging 15.8 points and 5.1 assists.
“Renee’s one of those players that she has a way to lead that makes you want to play harder for her. The competitiveness that she has that she brings every day inspires you,” Moore said. “I’m surprised that she hasn’t gotten more recognition than she has because she’s the MVP on our team.
Moore and Montgomery are the third set of UConn first-teamers. Shea Ralph and Svetlana Abrosimova did it in 2000, and Kara Wolters and Jennifer Rizzotti made it in 1996. Tennessee is the only other team to put a pair on the first team.
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma wasn’t surprised Connecticut has had so many first-teamers.
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