CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - American senior center Cecily Carl has been named the Patriot League Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, in addition to being selected as one of five members of the 2018-19 Academic All-Patriot League Team, when it was announced by the League office.
Voting for the Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Academic All-Patriot League team is conducted by the League's women's basketball sports information directors.
2018-19 Patriot League Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Cecily Carl, American, Sr., F, Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg
* Last week, Carl was named the Patriot League Women's Basketball Player of the Year and to the First-Team All-Patriot League Team member.
* In the classroom, the sports analytics and management major carries a 3.89 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and has been selected to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll three times.
* On the court, Carl started in all 29 regular season contests this year leading the Eagles with 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game to go with a .881 free throw percentage.
* The 2018 Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament MVP has scored at least 20 points or more in seven of the last 11 games.
* Carl is the only player in American program history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 3-point field goals made.
American senior guard Elina Koskimies was named to the academic team after earning a spot on the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. The senior holds a 3.87 cumulative GPA while studying finance with a minor in accounting. Koskimies was named to both the second-team and all-defensive team when the Patriot League awards were announced last week. On the hardwood, Koskimies has averaged 11.5 points per game and grabbed 3.8 rebounds per game.
Army West Point senior guard Jess Lewis has been a Distinguished Cadet three years in a row, and carries a 3.83 cumulative GPA while majoring in life sciences. She has made the Dean's List all seven semesters during her time at West Point and will attend medical school following graduation. The senior started in 28 games this season for the Black Knights, averaging 8.3 points per game and 3.1 assists per game.
In the classroom, Lehigh junior guard Hannah Hedstrom has a 3.96 cumulative GPA while majoring in biology. Hedstrom was selected as a 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, being the first student-athlete from Lehigh's program to receive the honor since Lexi Martins in 2016. The junior was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll for the past two seasons, and she also earned recognition on the ECAC's President's Honor Roll. On the court, Hedstrom leads the Mountain Hawks in assists per game with 5.2.
Loyola Maryland sophomore forward Delaney Connolly received a spot on the Academic All-League team with a cumulative GPA of 4.00 while majoring in chemistry. The sophomore has maintained a 4.00 in three-straight semesters, and was a three-time member on the Dean's List. Connolly ended her second season at Loyola with 9.2 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game in 30 games played.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshman or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each individual sport comprises a pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for this honor.
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Cecily Carl, American, Sr., C
Academic All-League Team
Cecily Carl, American, Sr., C
Elina Koskimies, American, Sr., G
Jess Lewis, Army West Point, Sr., G
Hannah Hedstrom, Lehigh, Jr., G
Delaney Connolly, Loyola Maryland, So., F
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.