By: Jill Wunrow
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The 2011-12 season for the No. 10/10 Green Bay (31-2, 17-1 HL) women's basketball team may be in the books but national recognition for All-American candidate Julie Wojta (Francis Creek, Wis.) continues as the senior was named a Wade Trophy Finalist, announced by the WBCA Friday.

Wojta is one of 12 finalists, from a list of 33, that is in contention for The State Farm Wade Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I women's basketball player.

"These 12 finalists are the game's most elite players and exciting to watch," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "One of these talented student-athletes will be chosen to receive the sport's most prestigious award - The Wade Trophy."

Wojta is the 2011-12 Horizon League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being named a First Team All-League and All-League Defensive Team selection.

One of the senior captain's memorable performances by an individual this season was Wojta's performance at Milwaukee Jan. 7 when the five-time Horizon League Player of the Week grabbed a Horizon League and program record 12 steals, 11 in the first half of play. In the same contest Wojta also scored a game-high 27 points in 25 minutes of play. Wojta finished the season with a program record 127 steals, including a NCAA program record 10 in Green Bay's second round game of the NCAA Tournament against (2) Kentucky.

Feb. 11 Green Bay hosted Wright State in a Horizon League battle in which Wojta grabbed a Kress Center record 20 rebounds while pouring in a game-high 30 points, becoming the first player in program history to turn in a 30-20 performance. In the same contest, Wojta also set a Kress record with eight steals while tying the record with a career high four blocks.

Wojta concluded her senior campaign setting program individual season records with 252 made field goals and was second in points (644), scoring average (19.5), field goals attempted (491), and rebounds (328). Wojta finishes her career at Green Bay as one of the most decorated players in program history. The Wooden Award finalist ranks fourth on the program's individual career record list with 1,638 points and fifth with 843 rebounds, posting a Division I program record 35 double doubles.

A John R. Wooden Award finalist and member of the Naismith Watch List, Wojta's 288 career steals ranks third on Green Bay's individual career record list while her free throw percentage (.799) ranks fifth, 290 made free throws ranks sixth, and 363 free throws attempted ranks seventh. Throughout her 124 career games played, Wojta has dished out 378 assists, ranking sixth on Green Bay's career record list along with her 642 made field goals. Wojta's 1,289 attempted field goals and 13.2 points per game scoring average ranks seventh in program history.

The candidates were selected by a vote of committee members composed of leading basketball coaches, journalists and administrators. The committee will select the winner of The State Farm Wade Trophy from the 10-member NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches' All-America Team. The winner will be announced Monday, Apr. 2.

STATE FARM WADE TROPHY FINALISTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Elena Dell Donne - Jr. - University of Delaware

Skylar Diggins - Jr. - University of Notre Dame

Brittney Griner - Jr. - Baylor University

Shenise Johnson - Sr. - University of Miami

Anna Martin - Jr. - DePaul University

A'dia Mathies - Jr. - University of Kentucky

Chiney Ogwumike - So. - Stanford University

Nneka Ogwumike - Sr. - Stanford University

Samantha Prahalis - Sr. - Ohio State University

Odyssey Sims - So. - Baylor University

Alyssa Thomas - So. - University of Maryland

Julie Wojta - Sr. - Green Bay

To learn more about Wojta, her career, and watch highlights, click here.

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