Blanco named All-GSAC for Warriors

Westmont senior Angel Blanco

Westmont senior forward Angel Blanco has been named to the 2010-11 All-Golden State Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Team.

Blanco, who leads the Warriors in scoring (12.9 points per game) and rebounding (6.5 boards per game), has scored 864 points in her four-year career at Westmont and 555 rebounds.

“Angel has done an incredible job leading this team both on and off the floor,” said Westmont head coach Kirsten Moore. “Angel and Elizabeth (Evancoe), as the team’s other senior, along with Katie Kittle, as the other returning upperclassman, have taken this team and modeled what it means to be a Warrior – the work ethic and the commitment level.”

Playing on a team whose hallmark is balance, Blanco has been a beacon of consistency.

“If you look at the GSAC statistics, there are a number of people who have averaged more points or rebounds than Angel,” said Moore. “But the fact that she has been a team player has made our team good. When you have selfless leaders, it empowers other people to step up and take a bigger role. To have the GSAC coaches recognize her speaks to the fact that this is a team award as well.

“Angel works her hardest every night no matter what,” continued Moore. “There have been nights when she has done everything on the floor for us offensively and defensively. The most consistent thing she has brought for us has been her defense and her rebounding. That is something we have counted on.

“This year she has really come into her own offensively as well. She has taken the added responsibility of being the go-to player and making big plays to win games. She has done it from the floor with game winning buckets and she has sealed games from the free throw line. We certainly wouldn’t be in the position we are in, with an opportunity to go to nationals, if it weren’t for the leadership and the play that she has shown out on the court.”

Blanco and the Warriors will begin play in the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament by hosting Vanguard on Wednesday night in first round action. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.