Jessica VanLoy, Dakota State University's 5-foot-10 guard, can call her 2005-06 season an All-American one, after being named an NAIA
All-American honorable-mention player. 

The honor caps a remarkable sophomore season for the Wabasso (Minn.) High School graduate. She and her fellow Lady T's nailed down a share of the Dakota Athletic Conference title with a 10-4 record, tying Minot State of the top spot. Gaining an at-large berth in the NAIA Women's Div. II Basketball Tournament, DSU ran its record to 22-11 by going 2-1 in the national tourney at Sioux City and finishing as an Elite Eight team.

"It is a great honor for me to be named by the NAIA," said VanLoy. "I am just glad to represent our team. But, I do think there were others on our team who were just as worthy."

The Lady T's 22 wins marked the third-best wins record by DSU.

VanLoy's stellar season was played after she injured her left knee two-thirds of the way into the 2004-05 season.  In the Lady T's 19th game, which was played against Valley City State University last season, VanLoy suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, requiring surgery on Feb. 10, 2005, and then rehabilitation.

In her freshman year, VanLoy scored 163 points for the Lady T's for an 8.2-ppg. average, along with snatching 118 rebounds, blocking 10 shots, handing out 85 assists and producing 70 steals prior to her injury.

VanLoy returned to the 2005 fall camp eager to get back into the Lady T's lineup and nail down a starting spot.  "I have a passion for the game," admitted VanLoy.  "I was a bit anxious going onto the floor in that first game.  As time wore on, the injured knee wasn't a factor at all."

VanLoy played all of the Lady T's 33 games this season, snatching 192 rebounds to lead the Lady T's prior to the NAIA Tournament. She scored 253 points, making her one of the team's top five scorers.

In the NAIA Tournament, VanLoy averaged 6.6 points and almost seven rebounds in the Lady T's three games, which included a tourney-best
12-point, 6-rebound effort in DSU's 59-55 opening-round win over Shawnee (Ohio) State University.

For a complete listing of the 2005-06 NAIA All-Americans, please click here.

Jessica joins a very elite group of Lady T's named to this prestigious honor team:

Monica Severson:  Honorable Mention All-American
Dawn Gaffney:  3rd Team All-American
Kathy Shypulski:  Honorable Mention selection as a junior,
                               2nd Team All-American as a senior
Jessica VanLoy:  Honorable Mention All-American