Graduate student Chrissy Givens of Middle Tennessee State University and senior Ashley Marble of
the University of Southern Maine head the 2006-2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women's Basketball Teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Givens, a native of Monroe, La., was selected as the Academic All-America of the Year in the University Division. Givens has posted a 3.89 cumulative grade point average as a criminal justice major at Middle Tennessee State. This year Givens is averaging 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.0 steals per game. She was a 2005-06 second-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection and as was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.
I have to say its probably one of the biggest awards I could ever get because I take my academics so seriously, Givens says. Its a great honor to be recognized for the things I do off the court as well as the things on the court. Education was stressed by my parents growing up and they are a great part of my success.
Marble, a native of Topsfield, Maine, was selected as the Academic All-America of the Year in the College Division. She has posted a 3.71 GPA as a health fitness major at the University of Southern Maine. Marble is averaging an impressive 22.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game while shooting .505 from the field. She leads the squad with 16 double-doubles and is the first USM women's player to have over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career.
I am really honored to receive this particular award, Marble says. I take pride in my academics and it is nice to see the hard work and extra time studying paying off. With my mother being an elementary school principal, education has always been a priority in my family and as a senior completing my college education it is fulfilling to be rewarded as a student-athlete.
Joining Givens on the University Division Academic All-America first-team squad were George Washingtons Kenan Cole, Leslie Cook of High Point, Betsy Rietema of Valparaiso and Sarah VanMetre of Eastern Michigan. The second team was comprised of Joanna Chadd of Eastern Washington, Shay Doron of Maryland, Jackie McFarland of Colorado, Tyler McIlwraith of Saint Louis, Carrie Moore of Western Michigan, Candace Parker of Tennessee and Megan Vogel of South Dakota State. Rounding out the University Division Academic All-America team were third-team members Lori Bjork of Illinois, Crystal Langhorne of Maryland, and Laura Rudolphi of Indiana State.
Marble was joined on the College Division Academic All-America first team by Alison Adamson of Augustana (S.D.), Mercyhursts Julie Anderson, Sarah Grab of West Virginia Wesleyan, Mary Moskal of Lewis and Lisa Winkle of Calvin. The second team was comprised of Danielle Dwello of Northwest Nazarene, Lacey Kennedy of Mississippi College, Nikki Lewis of St. Francis (Ind.), Tarra Richardson of McMurry, Stephanie Smith of Olivet and Jessica Zapf of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Rounding out the College Division Academic All-America team were third team members Abby DeBusk of Mars Hill, Leora Juster of UC San Diego, Katie LaViolette of Concordia (Minn.), and Sharon Prange of MIT.
The Academic All-America program annually honors over 1,600 student-athletes who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA (the College Sports Information Directors of America), a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the programs inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.
ESPN The Magazine winner of the 2003 National Magazine Award for General Excellence is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized bi-weekly with a circulation of 1.85 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.
For more information about the Academic All-America
Teams program, please visit
www.cosida.com or email
rlipe@bentley.edu.