Husker Kelsey Griffin receives All-America honors

Even with its season over, the Nebraska women's basketball team continues to pick up awards.

Senior Kelsey Griffin became just the second Cornhusker to receive first-team Associated Press All-America honors when the award was announced on Tuesday.

The Eagle River, Alaska, native finished the season averaging a double-double with 20.1 points and 10.4 rebounds a game, leading Nebraska to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

"It is a great honor to be named an All-American, and I am so proud that I am able to represent the Nebraska program and my home state of Alaska as an All-American," Griffin said. "My collegiate career has been a wonderful journey that was made possible by all the great teammates and coaches that I have had. I am going to remember this season and all the great times I have had with my teammates for a lifetime."

Griffin finished her Husker career with 2,033 points and 1,019 rebounds and became just the second Nebraska player to have 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. The other Husker to do so was Karen Jennings, who was named a first-team All American in 1992 and 1993.

Griffin is joined on the first-team list by Connecticut's Tina Charles and Maya Moore, Virginia's Monica Wright and Ohio State's Jantel Lavender.

Griffin is a three-time first-team All Big 12 Conference performer and was named the Big 12 Player-of-the-Year this season. The 6-foot-2 forward sat out all of last season with an ankle injury, but returned for her final season as a Husker to help propel Nebraska to its best season in school history.

Nebraska finished the season 32-2 and was a perfect 29-0 during the regular season, making it the first Big 12 team to accomplish that feat. Griffin had 19 double-doubles on the year and is Nebraska's all-time leader in free throw makes and attempts.

"We are so excited for Kelsey because she is truly deserving of All-America honors," Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said.

"Kelsey is the best player I have ever coached, and she is also one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. She is an outstanding teammate, but most importantly, she is a great person. She has shown amazing toughness in her ability to overcome a variety of injuries and challenges in her career. She has been a tremendous representative of our program and the University of Nebraska for the past five years, and we know she will continue to be in the future."

dougburger@dailynebraskan.com