Feb. 8, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle University's Melanie Gibbons (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) has been named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 2 Second Team, it was announced Thursday.

 

Gibbons, a senior forward on the Women's Basketball team, earns the first academic honor of her career as an Explorer, but becomes the first La Salle player named Academic All-District since Jen Zenszer earned Academic All-America honors (third team) after the 2001 season.

 

On the court, Gibbons is one of just two players to start every game this season and has the longest current streak on the team with 53 straight starts. Last year, she became the first Explorer in six years to average more rebounds (5.1) than points (4.7) in a single season (with at least 100 total in each).

 

She has increased those averages this season to 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 points, and is second on the team in total rebounds (123), steals (22), and blocks (7). She has reached double figures in scoring four times this season and is shooting 55.3% from the floor (52-94), which would be the fifth-best single-season field goal percentage if she maintains her current number.

 

On the academic side, Gibbons has been named to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll four out of the last five semesters (3.5 GPA or higher). The psychology major with a 3.63 GPA joins five other Atlantic 10 Conference players who were selected to a district team.

 

In order to be eligible for the program, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and be at least a sophomore in school.