Issued: March 4, 2004

SPAETH NAMED THIRD TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN

EASTON, MA - UW-Eau Claire women's basketball forward/center Becca Spaeth (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) has been named a third team College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America College Division Women's Basketball Team, it was announced today by national coordinator Jim Seavey of Stonehill College.

Spaeth becomes the second women's basketball player in school history to earn academic All-American status. Arlene Meinholz was also a third team selection in 1994-95. She is the 16th individual in school history to earn academic All-America honors and the fourth in the last three years.

A biology major carrying a 3.92 grade point average, was named one of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Tri-Scholar-Athletes of the Year earlier this week. Spaeth was an Academic All-District honoree in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Spaeth was also one of 10 finalists named for the Jostens Trophy Division III Player of the Year.

A team captain, Spaeth was named first team All-WIAC in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Last season Spaeth earned D3Hoops.com All-Central Region Third Team selection honors.

In 2003-04 Spaeth ranked third in the WIAC in points per game (15.7), fourth in blocked shots (1.11), seventh in rebounding (7.3), eighth in field goal percentage (.437) and ninth in free throw percentage (.745). She led the Blugolds in scoring on 13 occasions and posted a career-high 31 points on December 9 against UW-Superior. The 31-point performance was the third highest by any conference player this season.

Spaeth finished her Blugold career just 14 points shy of the 1,000 point mark. She averaged 11.0 points per game over her four-year career.

"The Academic All-America teams program promotes the importance of balancing academics and athletics among college student-athletes. Sports information directors take pride in recognizing those who strive to achieve balanced excellence both academically and athletically in their college careers," says Academic All-America Chairperson Dick Lipe of Bentley College.

2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Women's Basketball Team