Two UC Squads Win BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Awards

July 7, 2009

CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati lacrosse and women's swimming and diving teams were among 23 squads honored with 2008-09 BIG EAST Conference Team Academic Excellence Awards, the league office announced Tuesday. The awards recognize the highest collective grade-point averages in each conference sport.

"This is a great example of the quality of student-athletes, coaches, and support staff that we have at the University of Cincinnati," Director of Athletics Mike Thomas said. "This recognition continues to fulfill the CATAPULT action plan and is something that everyone in the Cincinnati community can take pride in."

The winners were chosen based on the 2008-09 grade-point average of each student-athlete who appears on the squad list in a particular sport.

Women's swimming and diving, led by Elinore de Jong, who earned a BIG EAST Individual Sport Excellence Award Monday, won the award for the second-straight year.

The lacrosse team posted a perfect Academic Progress Report score in 2008, and senior Lindsey Marshall graduated magna cum laude on June 12, 2009.