May 6, 2002

Villanova University women's basketball recruit Jenna Viani has been named a third team All-American by USA Today. Viani, a 5-10 guard from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., will enroll at Villanova in the fall and be a member of the 2002-03 Wildcat squad.

As a senior this past season, Viani averaged 15.1 points per game and led Our Lady of Lourdes High School to a 28-1 overall record, a No. 4 ranking in the final USA Today Super 25 girls basketball poll and a fourth consecutive state and federation title. In early March, Viani was also named Miss New York Basketball which is an award given annually to the top girls basketball player in the state.

Viani is the second Wildcat recruit to earn national recognition this spring. Kate Dessart-Mager, a native of Media, Pa. and a student at Cardinal O'Hara High School, was one of 24 players selected to participate in the inaugural McDonald's All-American high school girls all-star game that was played on Monday, April 8 at Madison Square Garden in New York.