University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Women's Basketball Standout Elena Delle Donne Named Capital One National Academic All-American of the Year
2/23/2012 8:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TOWSON, Md. -- Already recognized as one of the top collegiate women's basketball players in the nation, University of Delaware junior standout Elena Delle Donne(below left) has added to her list of accolades by earning one of the highest honors possible for her work in the classroom.
Delle Donne was named to the Capital One Academic All-American first team on Thursday and went a step higher by being selected as the Academic All-American of the Year for NCAA Division I women's basketball.
The award is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) by a vote of its members.
An early childhood major with a 3.60 cumulative grade point average, Delle Donne was one of 15 NCAA Division I women's players recognized on the Academic All-American team and was selected as the top student-athlete from among that prestigious group. University of North Carolina senior Tyler Zeller was recognized as the Academic All-American of the Year for men's Division I basketball.
“Every one knows the kind of outstanding player Elena is by watching her on the court night in and night out,” said Delaware head coach Tina Martin. “But what makes winning an award like this so special is that it shows the kind of person and student she is off the court as well. Her commitment and work ethic to the game of basketball is exceptional but she works every bit as hard on the academic side and it shows. I know this is an award that she will cherish as much as any of the others that she has earned. We are proud of her in so many ways.”
Delle Donne, who was named to the CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic first team earlier this month and to the second team last season, becomes just the second University of Delaware women's basketball player to earn a spot on the Academic All-American team - joining UD Athletics Hall of Fame member Lori Howard who was a third team Academic All-American in 1980.
Delle Donne, a Dean's List student and a soon-to-be three-time member of the CAA Academic Honor Roll, is the first UD student-athlete in any sport to be named the Academic All-American of the Year. One of several Academic All-Americans in UD athletics history, this year marks the third straight season that Delaware has had a student-athlete named to an Academic All-American team, joining men's cross country and track runner Ed Bonnevie in 2010-11 and men's soccer player Kyle Davis in 2009-10.
A third-year standout for the Blue Hens, Delle Donne has led No. 9/8 ranked Delaware to its finest season in school history. The Blue Hens, who have earned their first-ever Top 25 national ranking this season, currently own a record of 24-1 overall and bring a 14-game winning streak into tonight's CAA matchup with George Mason. Delaware has already earned the CAA regular season title with a perfect 15-0 mark with three games left to play.
Already a two-time All-American and the 2010 CAA Player and Rookie of the Year, Delle Donne has made a strong case for national Player of the Year honors this season as she leads the nation in scoring with 28.1 points per game while ranking third in free throw shooting with a 89.6 percent mark. She also leads the Blue Hens in rebounding (10.5 per game), blocks (61), steals (32), and three-point field goals (35), and ranks second in assists (61).
She has scored in double figures in all 25 games this season highlighted by a season-high 42 points at Hofstra Feb. 16, 41 points and 15 rebounds vs. Hofstra on Jan. 26, 40 points and 15 rebounds at George Mason on Jan. 8, and 40 points and 12 rebounds in an 80-71 win over then No. 11 ranked Penn State on Nov. 17.
Joining Delle Donne on the Academic All-American first team were Glory Johnson of Tennessee, Amanda Johnson of Oregon, Caroline Durbin of New Mexico, and Roxana Button of Houston. Johnson earned a spot on the Academic All-American team for the third straight year.
AGATE:
Capital One 2012 Academic All-America Women's Basketball Division I Women's Team:
1st Team - Elena Delle Donne (Delaware), Roxana Button (Houston), Caroline Durbin (New Mexico), Amanda Johnson (Oregon), Glory Johnson (Tennessee)
2nd Team: Lacey Boshe (Missouri State), Ashley Eide (South Dakota State), Marissa Kastanek (North Carolina State), Brittany Rayburn (Purdue), Rachel Semansky (Montana State), Julie Wojta (Wisconsin-Green Bay)
3rd Team: Janae Burich (North Dakota State), Kody Burke (North Carolina State), Alyssa Charlston (Idaho), Jericka Jenkins (Hampton).
Academic All-American of the Year: Elena Delle Donne (Delaware)
