July 17, 2008

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - While the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team has enjoyed a recent resurgence in results on the floor during the past two seasons, its accomplishments off the court have played a large role in building the program's foundation for success.

Highlighted by the club's #15 national ranking on the 2007-08 Women's Basketball Coach's Association (WBCA) Academic Team Honor Roll and a Division I school-record 18 victories, the Bonnies enjoyed an extremely successful season both on and off the floor this past year under eighth-year head coach Jim Crowley.

The Brown and White's inclusion in the WBCA Academic Top 25 was the school's fifth such berth in the last six years. This season's club posted a cumulative team grade point average of 3.352. St. Bonaventure posted its highest academic ranking in school history during the 2006-07 campaign when the Bonnies finished third in the nation, while also capturing 16 wins.

Led by the Academic All-America selection of then-junior Katelyn Murray, multiple members of the Brown and White enjoyed individual success in the academic arena during the past year, including the club's trio of departing seniors.

Five Bonnies capped the 2007-08 academic year with perfect grade point averages in the classroom and eight of next season's returning letterwinners head into the fall with cumulative GPA's of over 3.0. Furthermore, six members of last year's squad earned a spot on the fall and spring Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.5 GPA or better), while five qualified for the Dean's List (3.25 GPA or better) during the spring session.

"The academic success of our team goes hand in hand with the success we have experienced on the court," Crowley said. "Two of the qualities we look for in recruiting are intelligence and competitiveness. In our style of play, we need players who can understand and execute multiple reads, which coincides with many of the duties inside the classroom. Our academic success can also be attributed to our team's competitive fight to keep up with the incredible academic effort of the softball team and head coach Mike Threehouse."

Priscilla Edwards

Murray set the tone for the Bonnies in the classroom with her continued commitment to the books. The 5-9 guard became the second player in program history to garner a spot on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America team after posting a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in biology. Murray was also selected to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference squad.

The balance between a heavy academic workload and a grinding basketball schedule makes the honor that much more impressive after examining Murray's 2007-08 performance on the hardwood. Although the Harrisburg, Pa. product started 50 of her initial 58 games in the Brown and White, Murray increased her scoring average by three points as a junior to a career-high 10.4 points per game. She also developed into one of the most lethal shooters in the A-10 as she ranked among the league's best in three-point makes and percentage. Murray has been a member of the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Dean's List since her arrival on campus.

"Kate's accomplishments at St. Bonaventure have been simply amazing," Crowley said. "Her ability to thrive in a demanding academic curriculum as well as performing at a high-level on the floor is truly unheard of. Kate's dedication and work ethic in both academics and basketball is even more impressive. It's difficult to comprehend the time she puts into both until you witness it first hand."

The Bona program has also fostered academic improvement in many of its current players. The academic progression of fifth-year senior Priscilla Edwards resulted in the shifty point guard's graduation with a bachelor of arts degree in political science this past May. Despite missing the entire 2007-08 season due to a shoulder injury, Edwards remained on the Bona bench as a mentor and leader for her younger teammates. During her year away from the basketball court, the Harlem, N.Y. native excelled in the classroom and gained momentum towards her graduate course load this fall. Edwards will return to the Bona lineup this season and will also continue in the classroom with work towards a graduate degree in counseling.

Megan Ellis

Before being sidelined with an injury, Edwards had developed into one of the premier point guards in the Atlantic 10. As a junior, the 5-7 floor general enjoyed her best season in the Brown and White as she complied all around season numbers of 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals per contest. Edwards ranks ninth in assists (265) and 10th in made free throws (200) in the all-time Bona record books.

"Priscilla has been a true academic success story since her freshman year," Crowley said. "She is a student-athlete who has improved in every semester since she stepped foot on campus. Priscilla has worked tremendously hard and has really connected with a number of professors in order to find great success. My favorite thing about Priscilla is her willingness to share the things she has learned. You can really see her excitement for learning, which is a perfect sight for any educator."

Despite a limited impact on the floor during their four years with the Bonnies, the 2007-08 senior class of three composed multiple achievements away from the playing arena to ensure a bright future in the real world.

Megan Ellis saved her best season in the Brown and White for her final campaign as she posted career-bests of 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds per game as a sparkplug off the bench. The Philadelphia, Pa. product was a regular member of the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Dean's List and capped her final Bonaventure semester with a 4.0 grade point average. After earning a bachelor of arts degree in journalism/mass communications, Ellis will continue her education in the fall with a full tuition scholarship to the Duquesne University School of Law.

Maripier Malo graduated with a bachelor of science degree in physical education after registering a four-year cumulative grade point average of 3.893, including a 4.0 rating in the spring. Malo was honored at the 2008 Commencement Exercises by collecting a pair of individual accolades, including the John J. McNamee Award for General Excellence in the Physical Education Curriculum and the Al Nothem Student Teaching Award in Physical Education.

Iben Soltau

Following her senior year, the Montreal, Quebec native was selected to the WBCA's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program during the women's Final Four in Tampa, Fla. The workshop provided an educational and professional education for female basketball players in order to better prepare them for entering the coaching profession. Following the three-day clinic, Malo was individually recognized by WBCA president Sherri Cole for her outstanding performance in the program. Malo currently resides in her native Montreal where she plans to teach and coach in the fall.

Along with her classmate Ellis, Iben Soltau earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism/mass communication this past spring. Soltau capped her undergraduate career with a 4.0 grade point average this past semester. The 6-2 Danish international earned Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Dean's List honors in each of her semesters on campus. She will return to St. Bonaventure this year in pursuit of a master's degree in business administration. Soltau will also serve as a graduate assistant in the school's Teaching and Learning Center.

"The way in which our three seniors established a method of preparing for basketball and academics has become a model of expectation in our program," Crowley said. "All three knew scouting reports inside and out and did an amazing job in the classroom. The fact that all three earned perfect grade point averages during the final semester is a testament to their academic dedication and competitiveness."

The Brown and White are in the midst of two of the most successful seasons in program history with back-to-back winnings seasons and 34 combined victories over the past two years. The Bonnies return nine letterwinners and all five starters from last year's 18-12 club as well as the addition of four talented freshmen. St. Bonaventure will also welcome back a pair of players who missed a combined 51 games to injury in 2007-08.