University of the Sciences in Philadelphia women's basketball players Erin Chesnavich BI'10 and Melissa Rotz PharmD'12 were named to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District 2 women's basketball team as announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Chesnavich (Bishop O'Reilly High School/Pittston, Pa.) , a junior, and Rotz (Central Dauphin High School/Harrisburg, Pa.), a sophomore, were chosen as third team selections in balloting done by District 2 sports information directors.
The District 2 College Division consists of all NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia, and District of Columbia. To be nominated for the Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore athletically with a minimum 3.30 grade point average and a starter or significant reserve on her team.
Rotz, a pharmacy major in her first professional year (third overall) in the University's Doctor of Pharmacy program, currently sports a 4.00 grade point average. Melissa has earned Dean's List honors in each of her five semesters at the institution and was recently awarded the Jules Ann Bravyak Keegan scholarship as an outstanding student entering their first professional year of the institution's Doctor of Pharmacy program. Rotz was also inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society in the spring 2007 semester.
A sophomore athletically, having red-shirted her first year, Rotz moved into a starting role midway through this season after being the first guard off the bench. Melissa is currently second on the team in three-point field goals made, and third on the team in assists while playing in all 18 games this season. The Harrisburg, Pa., native recorded a career high 16 points against Nyack College earlier this season.
Chesnavich, a double major (biology and physician assistant), currently has a 3.35 overall grade point average and has earned Dean's List honors the last two semesters. She is currently in her third year both academically and athletically. Erin was also named to the 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All Area Women's Basketball Team and has earned numerous athletic honors this season.
This season, Chesnavich has earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Week honors and has been named to the CACC honor roll six times. Currently the Devils' leading scorer, shooter, and rebounder, Chesnavich is currently ranked in the top six in the CACC in seven different statistical categories, including a league leading 57.6% shooting percentage. This mark also ranks her 12th nationally amongst all division II players in field goal percentage. Erin also ranks 24th nationally in rebounding and 55th in scoring. The Pittston, Pa., native also had a string of eight consecutive double-doubles during the month of January.
"It is an honor to have players like Erin and Melissa achieve recognition for their accomplishments off the basketball court," said University of the Sciences head coach, Nate Ware. "These two young ladies truly exemplify what is means to be a 'student'-athlete."
Rotz and Chesnavich were amongst four women's basketball players from the CACC selected to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District 2 women's basketball team, joining Jessica Romano of Philadelphia University and Janelle Biamonte of Felician College (both first team selections).