Feb. 7, 2008

Whitney Lewis, a senior forward on the Wright State women's basketball team, has been named ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Lewis (Lynchburg, OH/Lynchburg-Clay), who currently holds a 3.97 grade point average in Human Factors Psychology, was named Second Team Academic All-District last season and has earned High Honors every quarter at Wright State. An Academic All-Horizon League selection as a sophomore and junior, Lewis was one of four female recipients of the Dr. Carl Benner Scholar-Athlete Award in 2007, which is given annually to the Wright State student-athlete with the top grade point average and is either a junior or senior.

On the court, Lewis became the 16th Raider to score 1000 points for a career as she reached the milestone on January 31 at UIC. She leads the team this season in three-point made and percentage, free throw percentage and blocks and is second in points scored and rebounds. Lewis also appears in the Horizon League rankings in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, three-pointers made and percentage, defensive rebounds and minutes played.

A Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League honoree, Lewis was selected to the Cal Poly Holiday Beach Classic All-Tournament Team in November. She hit four three-pointers in both games as she scored 20 points with three rebounds against Cal Poly and had 18 points with seven rebounds versus North Dakota State.

The Academic All-America program honors male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000 member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached at least sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. District IV consists of the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

Lewis becomes the second Wright State senior this year to be selected First Team Academic All-District as volleyball player Tara Geegan also received the honor in November.

Wright State, currently 8-12 overall and 5-4 in the Horizon League, begins a three-game homestand on Saturday, February 9, against Detroit followed by Cleveland State on Thursday, February 14, and Youngstown State on Saturday, February 16. The Detroit and Youngstown State games will tip-off at 1:00 while the Cleveland State contest will be at 5:30.