Feb. 27, 2008

Whitney Lewis, a senior forward on the Wright State women's basketball team, has been named ESPN The Magazine Third Team Academic All-American 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 earlier named First Team Academic All-District after receiving Second Team Academic All-District honors last season. An Academic All-Horizon League selection as a sophomore and junior, Lewis has earned High Honors every quarter at Wright State and 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 is currently the Division I leader in three-point percentage at .495. She also became the 16th Raider to score 1000 points for a career as she reached the milestone on January 31 at UIC and is currently 12th all-time with 1057 points. Lewis leads the team this season in three-pointers made and percentage, free throw percentage and blocks and is second in points scored and rebounds. She also appears in the Horizon League rankings in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, three-pointers made and percentage, defensive rebounds, blocked shots 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.

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

Wright State, currently 12-15 overall and 9-5 in the Horizon League, wraps up the home portion of its schedule this weekend as the Raiders take on Loyola on Thursday, February 28, at 7:00, followed by UIC on Saturday, March 1, at 1:00.