VERMILLION, S.D. - South Dakota's
Mandy Koupal has been tabbed the State Farm/Women's Basketball Coaches Association National Player of the Year for NCAA Division II.
Koupal, who was also named this week to the First Team Kodak/WBCA All-American team, will be formally recognized at the 2004 State Farm Wade Trophy and State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year Luncheon, presented by Jostens at the 2004 WBCA National Convention on April 3. 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, La. The WBCA presents this award to the top players in each of the five WBCA collegiate divisions (Division I, II, III, NAIA and JC/CC) and high school.
A senior from Wagner, S.D., Koupal will be able to exhibit her basketball talents during the WBCA Night of All-Stars on April 3, where she will participate as a member of the WBCA College All-Star Team. The college all star team of elite seniors will take on the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team at Tulane University's Folgelman Arena. The college all-star game follows the WBCA High School All-American Game, presented by Nike. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
As the top vote-getter in Division II, Koupal is the only Division II player that will play in the game. Subject to change (if a player's team makes the Final Four), the college all-star roster includes Alana Beard and Iciss Tillis, Duke; Doneeka Hodges and Temeka Johnson, LSU; Erika Valek and Shereka Wright, Purdue; Amber Jacobs, Boston College; Naismith Player of the Year Diana Taurasi, Connecticut; Lindsay Whalen, Minnesota; Shameka Christon, Arkansas; Chandi Jones, Houston; Kelly Mazzante, Penn State; Nicole Powell, Stanford; Tera Bjorklund, Colorado; Rebekkah Brunson, Georgetown; Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State; Stacy Stephens, Texas and Christi Thomas, Georgia. .
"This is a great honor," said Koupal, who averaged 24.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game for the 16th-ranked Coyotes, which finished 25-8 this season. "I am proud to be recognized. Being able to participate in this All-Star Game is one of those experiences that you dream of as a young girl. I also know that this is a great thing for USD, the women's basketball program and a tribute to my teammates."
The State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year 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.
"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."
Koupal ranks as one of the best players ever to don a uniform at South Dakota, the North Central Conference and NCAA Division II. With 2,496 career points, Koupal ranks sixth all-time in Division II scoring. She helped lead the Coyotes to a 71-22 record during her three seasons at South Dakota, including twice helping USD to NCAA Division II Playoffs. She is the only player in conference history to earn three straight MVP honors and just the fifth player to be named All-NCC four times. In three years at USD, Koupal compiled school-record 2,142 points and 1,027 rebounds in 93 career games. She owns the NCC records for points (1,352) and rebounds (696).
"I can't think of anyone more deserving of this national honor than Mandy," said South Dakota head coach Chad Lavin. "She represents the best in what you want a member of your team to be. She is humble and modest but yet one of the best basketball players I have ever coached."
Koupal was one of two players nationally to rank in the top 10 in scoring (24.2, second) and rebounding (11.4, ninth). She is the only Division II player to rank in the top of both those categories in each of the past two seasons.
In being named to WBCA/Kodak All-American Team this week, she is one of three players named two straight seasons (Sara McKinney, California, Pa., and Lucresia West, Florida Southern). North Dakota's Marisa Leighton was the only other NCC player selected to the WBCA/Kodak team.
During her stellar career, the senior forward has been a dominating force for the Coyotes. She established a school-record 57 career double doubles, including a school record 22 this past season. Holder of 18 school records, Koupal scored 20 or more points in 61 of 93 games and had double figures in 91 of 93 games at USD. She scored more than 30 points 19 times in her career, including 11 times this season.
While disappointed that her collegiate career is over, Koupal is happy to have spent her career at South Dakota.
"It is a shocker when your season or career at a school ends. But I have had a very enjoyable and memorable experience at USD. Looking back, I am proud of what we have accomplished as a team and been part of a group of teammates that have helped mold a winning program. I am honored to have been a part of this team," she said.
"In the long run, it is amazing how far this program has come. I am thankful to Coach Lavin and Coach Becky Flynn-Jensen. I will never forget the good times we have had," she said.
Koupal noted that she has many memories, including this year when the team had to beat Minnesota State and St. Cloud State on the road, followed by wins over North Dakota and North Dakota State at home. During her career at USD, the Coyotes never lost to either North Dakota school at home. Then there was the win over then No. 1 ranked SDSU a year ago at home. It was the second consecutive win against the Jackrabbits at the Dome. While she had a career high of 40 points vs. Augustana in 2002-03, her best game may have come against NDSU at the DakotaDome on Feb. 22, 2003. In that game, she totaled 35 points and 26 rebounds, with the rebound mark an NCC single game record.
Throughout her career, Koupal continued to raise the bar for play in the post. As a sophomore, Koupal averaged 21.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, breaking the then-single season school record for points with 596. She helped USD to a 19-9 mark, 12-6 and second in the NCC. During her junior season, Koupal led USD to its first NCC title since 1985 by posting a 14-2 record as USD made the national playoffs, advancing to the NCAA Division II Playoff Regional Finals. She averaged 23.1 points and grabbed 11.9 boards per game. She finished fifth in the nation in scoring and 10th in D-II in rebounding, en route to earning her second straight NCC MVP honor. She broke her own record for single season points (740) and rebounds (380). Then, this past season, Koupal again broke the single season point (806) and rebounds (381) while helping USD to a 9-5 NCC mark and a spot in the national playoffs.
In addition, Koupal and her teammates brought back a home court advantage in the DakotaDome. In her three years at USD, the Coyotes had a 42-4 record at home.
"We had a lot of great runs," said Koupal. "We take pride in that fact that the Dome has become a tough place for opponents to play. We have a saying that we don't want people to come in our house and push us around."
Koupal, who started 93 straight games, was the one doing much of the pushing. Her numbers reflect that as does the team's record. The Daktronics National Player of the Year in 2002-03, Koupal made 51.9 percent of her career field goals and leaves USD with the highest scoring average (23.0) in school history. While playing the majority of her time in the post, Koupal still managed to make 37.2 percent from three-point range, with her 93 three-pointers the seventh best career total in school history. From the foul line, Koupal made 80.1 percent with a school record 537 conversions on 670 attempts. She had 160 steals and 121 career blocks, which is second in school history.
Given the attention she received while on the floor, Koupal fouled out just three times.
"Mandy knows the game and the situation," said Lavin. "Game in and game out, she came up with big plays and a consistency that is very impressive."
An elementary education major with a 3.823 grade point average, Koupal wants to coach. But first, she will cast a glance toward the possibilities of professional basketball and the WNBA. "I will see how things go at the All-Star Game," said Koupal. "However, I have always wanted to coach high school basketball. I want to learn about coaching."
Regardless, she will take with her the special times at South Dakota.
"I will never forget my teammates, my coaches and all the people I have met here. I will cherish the experiences and good times in this program. And, I will always be proud to be a Coyote."
