Alexander goes in 3rd round to Minnesota Lynx

IOWA CITY -- Kachine Alexander is going home.

A senior at the University of Iowa and a native of Minneapolis, Alexander was drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Lynx during the WNBA Draft on Monday. She was the 26th selection overall, the fifth and final pick by the Lynx.

"I dropped the phone and ran (when the selection was announced)," Alexander said a few minutes after she was picked. "To go back home is amazing."

Alexander is Iowa's first WNBA draftee since Crystal Smith was selected in 2006. She's the highest Iowa pick since three Hawkeyes (Tangela Smith, Nadine Domond and Angela Hamblin) were selected in the top 23 in 1998.

"A stat-sheet stuffer, Alexander was probably the best pound-for-pound rebounder in the college game," said her bio on ESPN.com. "More grinder than superstar, Alexander is most talented as a defender."

Despite standing 5-foot-9, Alexander ranks second all-time at Iowa in career rebounds, with 910. She scored 1,239 points and is the only player in school history to record 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists in a career.

"I'm definitely going to key on my strengths," she said. "Rebounding, defense ... I want to be versatile and show that they can use me."

It will be a challenge to make the 10-player Lynx roster.

Maya Moore of Connecticut, the Associated Press national collegiate player of the year, was the No. 1 selection by the Lynx.

Minnesota also nabbed Amber Harris of Xavier at No. 4, Jessica Breland of North Carolina at No. 13 and Felicia Chester of DePaul at No. 14.

"It will be a tough camp with the veterans and the other draft picks," Alexander said. "But I'm always up for a challenge."

Finals week at Iowa begins May 9. Training camp opens May 15.

Alexander played in three NCAA tournaments (she was academically ineligible whtn the Hawkeyes qualified in 2008). The Hawkeyes were 22-9 last season.

Six-foot-8, 19-year-old Australian Liz Cambage was selected second by the Tulsa Shock; Gonzaga point guard Courtney Vandersloot of Gonzaga went third to the Chicago Sky.

Iowa State's Kelsey Bolte was picked 32nd by the Atlanta Dream.