Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today that Union University's Josephine Owino has been named the State Farm/WBCA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Player of the Year. The WBCA presents this award annually to the top players in each of the following WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA and JC/CC) and high school.

"Josephine's accomplishments this year made her stand out for the State Farm/WBCA NAIA Player of the Year," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "I am pleased to present this award to Josephine as she has proven to be the very best in the NAIA."

Owino leads all of NAIA Division I with a 66.8 field goal percentage while pacing No. 1 Union to a perfect 32-0 record with a team-high 18.8 points per game. The junior center also leads the Lady Bulldogs with 8.6 rebounds per game, 79 blocked shots and 47 steals as they open the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Tournament Wednesday in Jackson, Tenn.

Owino earned First Team All-TranSouth and Player of the Year accolades this season, having won Player of the Week honors five times. She was also named TranSouth Tournament MVP. A native of Mombasa, Kenya, Owino played as a member of the Kenya National Team from 2000-03.

"Congratulations to State Farm/WBCA NAIA Player of the Year Josephine Owino," said Mark D. Gibson, assistant vice president of advertising at State Farm. "Her outstanding accomplishments as a student-athlete, on and off the court, make her truly deserving of this wonderful honor. We look forward to seeing Josephine fulfill the rest of her basketball dreams."

The State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year Award is selected by the seven-member WBCA Player of the Year Committee, which consists of one WBCA-member coach from each of the six WBCA NAIA Regions and the committee chair.

Owino will be formally presented her award at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at Noon (ET) in the Marriott Waterside's Grand Ballroom. The State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year presentation is part of the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Tampa Bay, Fla.

About State Farm
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About the WBCA
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 as a sport for women and girls. For additional information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.