Thursday, February 7, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – Four years on the court and in the classroom for Western Oregon’s Ali Nelke and four years of straight As.

The Wolves’ senior forward has excelled not only on the court, but as a business major. She headlines the 2018-19 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball All-Academic Team as the only member on the squad with a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average.

While maintaining her sterling grades, Nelke moved back into a full-time starter after playing in 18 games in a reserve role during the 2017-18 campaign. She enters the week averaging 8.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while starting in all 18 games this season. She is ranked , second in the GNAC with a .556 field goal percentage, is fifth with 1.4 blocked shots per game and ninth in rebounding.

A total of 53 student-athletes were named to the Women’s Basketball All-Academic Team. To qualify for the team, a student-athlete must be of sophomore standing or higher, be in their second season at the nominating school and have a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average.

A total of 12 players made the All-Academic Team with a GPA of 3.80 or greater.

Of the 53 total honorees, 29 are repeat selections. Nelke leads the list of 13 honorees who are on the team for the third time. That includes Alaska senior Marian Wamsley, Alaska Anchorage senior Tara Thompson, Central Washington senior Sadie Mensing, Montana State Billings seniors Taylor Edwards, Brina Hull and Vanessa Stavish; Northwest Nazarene senior Ellie Logan, Saint Martin’s seniors Rebekah Baugh, Emma Kennedy and Mallory Kessler; Seattle Pacific senior Jaylee Albert and Western Oregon senior Natalie DeLonge.

Concordia and Saint Martin’s each had seven selections to the All-Academic Team. Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene each had six selections.

2018-19 GNAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

* - 2017-18 All-Academic Selection
+ - 2016-17 All-Academic Selection    
# - 2015-16 All-Academic Selection