GREENWOOD, Ind. - Saint Mary's senior basketball players Elle Deardorff and Athena Samson were named to the 2023-24 Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team as announced by the College Sports Communicators.

 

A nursing major from Logansport, Indiana, Deardorff holds a cumulative grade point average above the requisite 3.5 while being a big contributor on the court in the 2023-24 season. Deardorff started and played in 24 of the team's games during her senior season while leading the team in scoring with 12.9 points per game. She set the program's single-game record for made three-pointers (8), finished second for most three-pointers in a single season (62), and second for most three-pointers in a career (135).  

A psychology major from Troy, Michigan, Samson also holds a cumulative grade point average above the requisite 3.5 and played a key role for the Belles this season. Samson started and played in each of the team's 25 games during the year. She posted 12 double-doubles and ended the season in the top 20 in rebounds per game among Division III women's basketball players. Additionally, she set the single-game record for rebounds (24) and the single-season record for rebounds (297) while tallying 17 double-digit rebound efforts during the year.

 

The pair are two of 16 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's basketball players to be honored for the 2023-24 season. It is the first Academic All-District® honor of each student-athlete's career.

 
According to the College Sports Communicators (CSC), the award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
 
For the full list of 2023-24 Academic All-District® Women's Basketball Team honorees, visit the CSC release.