Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995                   TAG: 9503160080
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LOBO HEADS WOMEN'S AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM

Lobo's devotion to team play is a big reason Connecticut is unbeaten and ranked No. 1, but it hasn't cost her any individual recognition.

The 6-foot-4 senior was the leading vote getter on The Associated Press women's All-America basketball team released Wednesday - the only player named to the first team on every ballot by a nationwide media panel. (Complete team in Scoreboard. B4.)

``I think she sets a great example for the rest of the kids,'' Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma said. ``I think she makes it possible for them to be much more unselfish and almost makes it so everyone else feels guilty if they are selfish because she's so unselfish.''

Lobo was joined on the first team by four other seniors - Shelley Sheetz of Colorado, Nikki McCray of Tennessee, Charlotte Smith of North Carolina and Niesa Johnson of Alabama.

Sheetz, the No. 2 vote getter, was a first-team pick on all but four ballots. McCray was chosen for the first team on all but five.

This is the first time The Associated Press has selected All-Americans in women's basketball and the three teams have a strong Connecticut tint. Junior guard Jennifer Rizzotti of the Huskies made the second team and sophomore center Kara Wolters made the third team.

Rizzotti is joined on the second team by Angela Aycock of Kansas, Wendy Palmer of Virginia, Vickie Johnson of Louisiana Tech and Latasha Byears of DePaul.

Third-ranked Tennessee was the only other school with more than one player on the three teams. Senior Dana Johnson was a third-team pick.

The three teams were chosen by the 32-member panel that voted in the weekly AP poll.

Lobo was the leading vote getter on the AP's preseason All-America team and lived up to her advance billing. While her numbers aren't overwhelming, she contributes in all areas, averaging 17.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.4 blocks in just 28 minutes per game.