ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) today announced that University of South Dakota senior Mandy Koupal has been named the NCAA Division II State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year. The WBCA presents this award annually to the top players in each of the five WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA and JC/CC) and high school.

"This season, Mandy proved to be among the elite in Division II women's basketball," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Her senior year was a storybook ending to a stellar collegiate career."

South Dakota senior Mandy Koupal is a three-time All-North Central Conference MVP and only the fifth player in conference history to be a four-time All-North Central Conference selection. Koupal broke school records this season by scoring 806 points and grabbing 381 rebounds. She also has a school record 57 career double-doubles. South Dakota reached the NCAA Division II Tournament and ended their season with a 25-8 record.

"State Farm is proud to honor an outstanding athlete such as Mandy Koupal," said State Farm's Manager of Advertising and Sponsorships, Bobby Wilkinson. "We take great pride in supporting the future of women's sports."

The State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year Award is selected by the nine-member WBCA Player of the Year Committee chaired by Colby Tilley and consisting of one WBCA-member coach from each of the eight WBCA NCAA Division II regions.

Koupal will be formally presented this year at the 2004 State Farm Wade Trophy and State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year Luncheon, presented by Jostens. The luncheon is part of the 2004 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Koupal will display her skills one last time as a Coyote during the "WBCA Night of All-Stars," where she will participate on the WBCA College All-Star Team. As the top senior vote getter in her division, she has earned a spot among the elite seniors in college hoops. She and other members of the all-star team will take on the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team at Tulane University's Folgelman Arena on Saturday, April 3, following the WBCA High School All-America Game, presented by Nike. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CST).

Founded in 1981, the WBCA 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 in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.