Vedvei named to WCBA's All American hoops team HM list

By Brad Blume

Sports Information Director

RAPID CITY --- The awards, accolades and elations are still pouring in for South Dakota School of Mines women’s basketball standout Melanie Vedvei. The Industrial Engineering graduate most recently received another huge honor, being named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association State Farm Coaches’ All-American Basketball Team as an NAIA Honorable Mention selection.

Vedvei went down with a season ending knee injury in early January. She tried to come back at the end of the season but the injury was too severe.

Vedvei, a native of Lake Preston, S.D., still earned a long list of accolades starting with a second straight selection to the NAIA Div. II All American First Team. She also earned NAIA Scholar Athlete honors, was a DAC first team selection, received DAC scholar honors and earned the NAIA Region III Dr. LeRoy Walker NAIA Championships of Character Award in her final season as a Lady Hardrocker.

The Mines standout also holds a large number of SD School of Mines women’s basketball records. She is the second all time leading scorer with 1,972 points. She also has every steals record that the Lady Hardrockers have --- career steals (420), steals in a season (124) and steals in a game (11). She also holds the record for most career free throws made at 555 as well as owning the most field goals attempted in a game at 36.

Vedvei finished the year with 399 points, 121 total rebounds, 110 assists and 87 steals.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For additional information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has a proud heritage of preparing graduates to serve as leaders in engineering and science. At the School of Mines every student has the opportunity to participate in research and test classroom learning through hands-on experience.

The university offers a total of 33 degree programs in engineering and science at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels. A public university with approximately 2,000 students, the School of Mines provides award-winning education, research and development in areas of critical need to our nation, and technology-based economic development to our region and state. The School of Mines is located in historic Rapid City, S.D. at the edge of the beautiful Black Hills.