Rebecca Kielpinski became just the second sophomore and the third women’s basketball player to win Athlete of the Year honors after helping the Seawolves to one of the best seasons in program history in 2006-07. Kielpinski, a 6-2 center, was the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year after averaging 14.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. The Mandan, N.D., native boosted the Seawolves to a 23-6 record, a second-place GNAC finish, and a second-round NCAA Tournament berth, earning third-team All-American honors from Women’s Div. II Bulletin. A first-team All-West Region selection, Kielpinski led the GNAC in rebounding and double-doubles (15), and held top-5 ranks in scoring (4th), blocks (2nd) and field-goal percentage (4th, .516). Nationally, she rated 13th in rebounding, 20th in blocks and 42nd in FG%. Kielpinski was a four-time GNAC Player of the Week, and she captured Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2006 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout as the Seawolves beat Div. I opponents Air Force and UC Riverside. At 20 years, 4 months, Kielpinski also became the youngest-ever AOY honoree.
