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Standish picked 19th in WNBA draft

From wire service | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 13 years, 1 month AGO
by From wire service
| April 17, 2012 9:00 PM

BRISTOL, Conn. - Gonzaga women's basketball senior Kayla Standish was selected as the 19th pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx Monday, becoming the third player in Zag women's basketball history to be drafted by the WNBA.

Standish's teammate Katelan Redmon was drafted in the third round, 36th overall pick, by the New York Liberty.

Stanford star Nnemkadi Ogwumike was selected with the first pick in the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.

"This is just an honor," said Standish after hearing her name called. "It felt good to finally stand up (be selected). It is such an honor and I am very happy."

"I am thrilled for Kayla," said Gonzaga head coach Kelly Graves from Bristol. "I think she is a player that has worked hard and improved and for her to be rewarded by being drafted is phenomenal. I believe her best basketball is ahead of her and I wouldn't be surprised if she surprises people as she moves forward. Kayla has so much to give to a team.

"It is amazing to have had a player drafted three-straight years. That doesn't happen often, anywhere, so I am thrilled. Our program is coming of age."

Standish joins former Zags Courtney Vandersloot and Vivian Frieson as players who have been drafted into the WNBA. Vandersloot, in her second year in the league, was the third overall draft pick by the Chicago Sky in 2011. Frieson was Gonzaga's inaugural player drafted, going 31st to the Tulsa Shock in the 2010 draft.

Standish, the two-time All-West Coast Conference honoree, helped Gonzaga to its third-straight NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance this season. The senior averaged a team-best 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting an impressive 48.0 percent (214-of-446) from the field and 78.9 percent (127-of-161) at the charity stripe.

The 6-3 forward exploded in this post-season, averaging 23.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists over the Zags five games, including three NCAA Tournament contests. She shot 50.0 percent (43-of-86) from the field and 85.3 percent (29-of-34) at the free throw line.

Standish closed out her Gonzaga career as the school's leader in games played (138) and blocks (176). She also stands fifth in the career record book for rebounds (809); seventh in both points (1,583) and field goal percentage (48.8) and eight in free throws made (289).

Redmon was drafted in the third round, 36th overall pick, by the New York Liberty.

"I couldn't be more thrilled for Katelan," said head coach Kelly Graves after hearing the news that Redmon was also drafted. "She has worked hard and I can see her going and winning a spot. She is impressive. The WNBA is the type of game that is right up her alley."

This is the first-time in school history the Zags have had two players drafted in the same year. Gonzaga has now had four players drafted into the WNBA.

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