ATLANTA – The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and State Farm announced the 2011 NCAA Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team on Tuesday, and Mystee Dale has been selected as the University of West Alabama’s first All-American in the NCAA era.

This marks the third significant honor for Dale since the Tigers wrapped up the season as she also earned Daktronics All-South Region honors, and the Laurel, Miss., native also was named the Gulf South Conference East Division Player of the Year.

“Mystee is very deserving of this award,” UWA Head Coach Craig Roden said. “In my 33 years of coaching, she has the most consistent numbers I’ve ever coached. She came to play every day, and we’re very proud of her.”

Dale finished the season with 21.2 points per game – a mark that is fifth best among all NCAA II players – and she is also among the nation’s best in free throw shooting as she compiled an 87.2 percentage at the charity stripe. That mark is good for eighth in the country.

Keying an impressive turnaround, she led the GSC in scoring and free throw percentage while ranking in the top 10 of seven other statistical categories as UWA finished the season with an 18-9 record after going 9-19 a year ago.

“Congratulations to all the members of the 2011 State Farm Coaches’ NCAA Division II All-America Team,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “These 10 student-athletes truly elevated their game above the rest this season and are deserving of such recognition.”

Veronica Walker – the GSC West Division Player of the Year – joins Dale on the team as the Gulf South Conference and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference were the only two to land more than one student-athlete on the squad.

The GSC was also represented by DSU’s Sarita Cooper, Jasmine Hammon of Alabama in Huntsville, and Natalia Santos from NCAA South Region champion Arkansas Tech as all three earned honorable mention recognition.