February 28, 2007
Texas A&M's Katy Pounds (Shallowater, Texas) and Jennifer Wilks (Frankston, Texas) were among 46 student-athletes honored on the Academic All-Big 12 Conference Women?â„¢s Basketball Team as announced by the league office Wednesday.
Pounds, a six-foot junior forward for the nationally-ranked Aggies, is a sport management major with a 3.411 grade-point average. This is her second career first-team honor for her academic achievement off the court. Wilks, a six-foot senior forward, graduated in December with a bachelor?â„¢s degree in agricultural development. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 second team selection carrying a 3.036 GPA, she is pursuing graduate school coursework with future aspirations of becoming an athletic academic advisor and college referee.
Nominated by each institution?â„¢s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the academic all-league women's basketball squad consisted of 33 first-team members combined with 13 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
Oklahoma City will host the 2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship in the Cox Convention Center for the first time in conference history. Six different teams have won the previous Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament championships.