SIOUX FALLS – University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball senior Sam Knecht has been selected an NCAA DII Honorable Mention All-American in an announcement today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. In the announcement, the WBCA named its DII player of the year (Kelly Moten of Emporia State) and an 10-member DII All-American team as well as honorable mention All-Americans. 

Knecht, a 6-2 senior from Platte, S.D., averaged 14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.24 blocks per game this season for the Cougars, which finished 22-8. Named USF's first CoSIDA Academic All-American earlier this month, Knecht becomes USF first player named an NCAA DII honorable mention All-American by the WBCA.

"We are very proud of Sam (Knecht)," said USF head women's basketball coach Travis Traphagen. "First of all, she had a fantastic year with numerous double doubles and helping lead us to the NSIC Tournament Championship for the second straight year. But more than that, she was an exceptional leader on and off the floor. She is a fantastic person and we are so happy that she has been recognized by the WBCA as one of the nation's best," he said.

This year Knecht ranked second in the league in rebounds per game and scored in double digits 21 times with six 20-point games and 12 double doubles. Seventeen times she registered double digits in rebounds and recorded five blocks or more six times with a career best-eight against Minnesota State on Jan. 20.  She helped lead USF to its second straight appearance in the NSIC Tournament Championship game
 
She helped lead the USF women's basketball team to 80 wins in four years, two appearances in the NSIC Tournament Championship game, including the program's first league tourney title a year ago, and an NCAA DII playoff appearance (2015-16). In the past two seasons, USF has recorded a 49-14 record, including 32-12 in the NSIC.

A business administration major, Knecht was named to the NSIC All-Academic team three times and also a Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction honor recipient this year. Earlier, Knecht was named first-team All-NSIC, earning her second all-league honor. She was second team as a sophomore in 2015 and also named NSIC Freshman of the Year in 2014.  Knecht joins 2015-16 NSIC Player of the Year Taylor Varsho as one of two Cougars to earn a spot on the All-NSIC Defensive Team. She was named to the NSIC All-Conference Tournament each of the past two years.
 
With 300 rebounds in 2016-17, she ranks third on USF's all-time season mark.  Knecht grabbed 19 rebounds on Feb. 10 against Augustana, the most in the NSIC season and another USF record.

Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.