Anchorage Daily News

At this rate, UAA junior Rebecca Kielpinski is on track for first-team All-America status by April of 2009.

One season after being chosen as a third-team All-American by Division II Bulletin, the 6-foot-2 center from Mandan, N.D., took another step forward in the elite circles of women's college basketball.

Kielpinski on Wednesday was recognized as one the best players in D-II basketball, selected as a second-team All-American for her standout performance during UAA's record-breaking season.

She averaged 12.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game and helped lead the Seawolves (30-5) to their first Final Four appearance last week.

"I'm not sure who votes for these things, but I know one thing -- I'd sure as heck vote for Rebecca," UAA coach Tim Moser said by cell phone.

Since her freshman year, Kielpinski has been tabbed the Seawolves' franchise player. Every season she seems to live up to those expectations.

But this season, Moser said he witnessed the Seawolves' double-double machine reach new heights. Even though her scoring average dropped 1.8 points per game from last season, defensively she shined. Kielpinski broke program records in career blocked shots (183), blocks per game (2.0) and rebounds (891). She also leads the program in career double-doubles (41).

With one season remaining in her career, numbers like these have already solidified Kielpinski's tenure as one of the best in Seawolf history.

"It's a great honor to coach Rebecca," Moser said. "I expect her to leave a legacy here and her name on the wall as a hall of famer."

Kielpinski, who led the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in rebounding for the third straight season, is projected to break both the scoring and rebounding records during her senior season.

She finished her junior season with 1,387 career points and 891 rebounds, which both rank in the top 10 all-time in GNAC history.

She needs only 310 points and 193 rebounds to become the conference's all-time leader in both categories. If UAA plays 35 games again next season, and Kielpinski plays in all of them, she'd only have to average 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds to break the records.

The season won't start for seven months, but Moser said he wants Kielpinski to take more chances and shoot more.

Her averaged dropped from 19.4 points a game her freshman season to 14.5 her sophomore season. Considering she averaged 12.7 this season, Moser's challenge is to form an offense geared for Kielpinski to score more.

"She passes way too much," Moser said. "But she's such a good team player, she makes everyone around her better."

Moser added that Kielpinski's the kind of player who "doesn't have a selfish bone in her body." But with the Seawolves losing senior starters Kalhie Quinones, Maria Nilsson and Jennifer Salazar, Kielpinski's leadership role will need to expand.

Moser isn't worried.

"She's gotten so much tougher inside," he said. "She's an aggressive and confident player with defensive tenacity."

Moser has already thought of the Seawolves' future. He's currently on a Lower 48 road trip, trying to bring home a point guard who will dish the ball down low to Kielpinski next season.

He's also in search for the next Kielpinski, a post player with D-I skills who wants to play D-II hoops in Alaska and help the Seawolves win their first NCAA national championship.

Those players, Moser said, are diamonds in the rough.

"We need more players like Rebecca," he said.

Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.

2007-08 Women's Division II Bulletin All-American

First Team

Celeste Trahan, Elizabeth City State; Katie Cezat, Hillsdale; Emily Brister, West Texas A&M; Michelle Stueve, Emporia State; Johanna Leedham, Franklin Pierce.

Second Team

Rebecca Kielpinski, UAA; Jennifer Rushing, Delta State; Ashley Langen, North Dakota; Kate Lynch, So. Connecticut; Lauren Beckley, Shippensburg.

Player of the Year -- Celeste Trahan, Elizabeth City State, Sr., Center.

Freshman of the Year -- Chelsea Johnson, Florida Southern.

ADVERTISEMENT