Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Ashley Marble Named Academic All-America®

     GORHAM, Maine  --  University of Southern Maine women's basketball senior 
forward Ashley Marble (Topsfield, Maine/Woodland) heads up an impressive list of 
student-athletes named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America® Women's 
Basketball teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of 
America (CoSIDA).
     In addition to being named to a spot on the Academic All-America® first 
team, Marble was selected as the Academic All-America of the Year for the 
College Division which includes all women's basketball teams competing at the 
NCAA Division II and III and NAIA levels.  CoSIDA announced the 2007 Women's 
Basketball Academic All-America® team today. 
     Recently named the Little East Conference Player of the Year for the third 
consecutive year (2005, 2006, 2007), Marble is the first USM student-athlete to 
earn First Team Academic All-America® honors.  Former USM standout student-
athletes Alison Drury (At-Large: Field Hockey) and Darryl Whitney (Men's Track 
and Cross Country) earned third team and second team Academic All-America® 
honors, respectively.  Drury earned her honor in 1999, while Whitney was a 2003 
selection. 
     Marble, a two-time Academic All-District One First Team selection (2006, 
2007), carries an outstanding 3.71 grade point average and is studying for a 
degree in health fitness.  As a sophomore, the 5-9 forward earned third team 
Academic All-District honors (2005).   
     "I am very honored to receive this award," commented Marble.  "I take pride 
in my academics and it is nice to see the extra effort and time studying pay 
off.  With my mother being an elementary school principal, education has always 
been a priority in my family, and as a senior it is fulfilling to be rewarded as 
a student-athlete." 
     The College Sports Information Directors of America selects Academic All-
America® teams in 12 programs: football, women's volleyball, men's soccer, 
women's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's 
track & field/cross country, women's track & field/cross country, men's at-large 
and women's at-large.  A first team, second team and third team are selected in 
both the University (Division I) and College (NCAA Divisions II & III and NAIA) 
Divisions. 
     "Ashley has been an exemplary student-athlete," noted veteran USM head 
coach Gary Fifield.  "She has excelled both in the classroom and on the court by 
dedicating herself and prioritizing her time.  This is a tremendous honor for 
her, her family and the USM women's basketball program and it illustrates what 
hard work and perseverance can achieve." 
     A 2006 WBCA All-American, Marble leads Southern Maine in scoring and 
rebounding, averaging 23.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.  This season, 
Marble has recorded 20 double-doubles, been named the Little East Conference 
Player of the Week on nine occasions, and selected as the Maine Women's 
Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Player of the Week six times.  Marble was 
also named the Women's DIII News Player of the Month for the month of January.
     Marble was named the 2007 Little East Conference Championship Tournament's 
Most Outstanding Player posting three consecutive double-doubles to lead the 
Huskies to their 11th consecutive LEC crown.  It is the second straight year 
that Marble has earned the honor.  She averaged 27.3 points and 14.0 rebounds 
during the championship tournament and set career-high marks with 37 points and 
22 rebounds in a semifinal win over Eastern Connecticut State University.  
     Shooting a solid 50.2 percent from the field, Marble is ranked nationally 
by the NCAA in three statistical categories: scoring (5th), rebounding (8th) and 
field goal percentage (62nd).  In her career, the Huskies have posted a 
remarkable 117-9 overall record (.928 winning percentage) and a 55-1 mark in the 
Little East Conference.  The Huskies have advanced to the NCAA Division III 
Final Four twice during her career (2005, 2006) and Marble was named to the 2006 
NCAA Division III National Championship All-Tournament team in 2006. 
     Southern Maine, currently 25-2, is making its 13th straight appearance in 
the NCAA tournament and its 21st trip in 22 years since joining the NCAA in 
1985.  The Huskies open play in the 2007 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball 
National Championship Tournament at home on Friday (March 2) at 8:00 p.m.   The 
Huskies will face Williams College (20-6).  


ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America® Women's Basketball Team 
(College Division) as selected by CoSIDA

First Team 
Name                College/University        Class    Hometown
                        GPA      Major
Allison Adamson     Augustana College          Sr.     Willmar, Minn.
                        3.99     History
Lisa Winkle         Calvin College             Sr.     Grand Rapids, Mich.
                        3.96     Mathematics/Secondary Education
Mary Moska          Lewis University           Sr.     Cherry Valley, Ill.
                        3.96      Biology
Julie Anderson      Mercyhurst College         Sr.     Verona, Ontario
                        3.98     Sports Medicine
Ashley Marble       Southern Maine             Sr.     Topsfield, Maine
                        3.71     Health Fitness
Sarah Grab          West Virigina Wesleyan     Sr.     Erie, Pa.     
                        3.98     Elementary Education

Second Team
Name                College/University        Class    Hometown
                        GPA      Major
Tarra Richardson    McMurry University         Jr.     Fort Worth, Texas
                        3.90     Finance
Stephanie Smith     Olivet College             Sr.     Waldron, Mich.
                        4.0      Environmental Science & Biology
Nikki Lewis         St. Francis (Ind.)         Sr.     Fort Wayne, Ind.
                        4.0      Biology
Lacey Kennedy       Mississippi College        Sr.     Brookhaven, Miss.
                        3.59     Kinesiology
Danielle Dwello     Northwest Nazarene         Sr.     Nampa, Ind.
                        3.98     Elementary Education
Jessica Zapf        Pittsburgh-Johnstown       Sr.     Pittsburgh, Pa.
                        3.98     Elementary Education

Third Team
Name                College/University        Class    Hometown
                        GPA      Major
Leora Juster        San-Diego California       Sr.     Los Angeles, Calif.
                        3.4      Mathematics/Secondary Education
Katie LaViolette    Concordia University       Jr.     Manitowoc, Wisc.
                        4.0      Kinesiology & Sports Management
Sharon Prange       M.I.T.                     Sr.     Arlington, Va.
                        4.6      Mechanical Engineering
Abby DeBusk         Mars Hill College          Sr.     New Tezewell, Tenn.
                        3.84     Chemistry


Academic All-America® of the Year (College Division)
Ashley Marble, Senior, Forward, University of Southern Maine