Senior Naama Shafir has been selected as one of 52 regional finalists for the 2013 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coaches’ All-America Team for NCAA Division I.
Shafir
The selection committee uses an equation to determine a fair number of nominees from each region. The number of Division I institutions in each region is divided by the number of Division I institutions overall to determine a percentage for each region. This percentage is then multiplied by 52 (the total number of desired finalists) to get the number of finalists for each region.
The 2013 WBCA Division I Coaches’ All-America 10-member team will be announced April 6 at 2:10 p.m. during the NCAA Women’s Final Four Super Saturday festivities in New Orleans Arena.
Shafir is one of three student-athletes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) recognized from Region 4. The four-time All-MAC recipient is joined by fellow league players Crystal Bradford from Central Michigan and Courtney Osborn from Miami.
Shafir is averaging a squad-best 12.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, a team-high 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals in 29.9 minutes per game. The 2012-13 first-team All-MAC honoree ranks third in the league in assist/turnover ratio (1.8) and helpers, fourth in free-throw percentage (79.8 percent, 87 of 109), eighth in scoring, 12th in three-point field-goal percentage (33.6 percent, 36 of 107) and thefts, and tied for 13th in three-point field goals made (1.2).
The Hoshaya, Israel, native has produced double-figure points a squad-best 22 times in 2012-13, including a season-best 29 points at Central Michigan Feb. 24. Shafir also has poured in at least 20 points on four occasions this season.
In MAC contests, Shafir tallied a team-high 12.4 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, a squad-best 4.4 assists per game and 1.8 steals per game in 29.9 minutes per game.
Earlier this season, the runner-up for MAC Player of the Year became UT’s all-time assist leader against Ohio Jan. 31, passing Dana Drew (659, 1990-95).
Shafir sits first in Toledo annals in career helpers (710, third most in MAC history), minutes played (4,106) and games played; second in free throws attempted (683); third in steals (222) and free throws made (528); fourth in field goals attempted (1,428); fifth in points (1,833); seventh in free-throw percentage (77.3 percent, 528 of 683) and field goals made (586); and tied for ninth in scoring average.
Shafir and the Rockets will play in the WNIT for a fourth consecutive season. Toledo will take on Atlantic 10 foe Butler Thursday, March 21. The tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. in Savage Arena.
