Soccer Collects 13 Academic All-Big 12 Honorees

Soccer 11/1/2016 12:00:00 AM

Nov. 1, 2016

KANSAS CITY ÃƒÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢' ¬" Baylor soccer earned a league-second-best 13 Academic All-Big 12 selections, the conference announced Tuesday. With 11 first team and two second team choices, the Bears have had at least 10 honorees in each of the last 10 years.

BU's first team selections were junior Precious Akanyirige, senior Lindsay Burns, senior Emory Cason, sophomore Jackie Crowther, senior Bridget Hamway, sophomore Julie James, sophomore Sarah King, sophomore Ariel Leach, sophomore Kylie Ross, senior Marissa Sullivan and senior Ashley York.

Burns, Cason and York all achieved the first team recognition for the maximum third time as they were each Big 12 Academic All-Rookie choices in 2013. Akanyirige (2014 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie choice) and Hamway (2013 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie choice) collected the first team honor for the second time. Crowther, James (one of 18 on the list of 106 honorees with a 4.00 GPA), King, Leach and Ross collected the recognition for the first time after being 2015 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie selections. Sullivan also received the accolade for the first time.

The Bears' second team choices were sophomore Amanda Hoglund and junior Sara Martinson. Hoglund earned the honor for the first time. Martinson (2013 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie choice) collected the second team accolade for the second time and second straight season.

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 their 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. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

With the regular season complete, the Bears return to action Wednesday in Kansas City at the 2016 Big 12 Soccer Championship as the No. 3 seed to take on No. 6 seed Oklahoma State at 8 p.m. CT at Swope Soccer Village.