FSU'S LUCY DEMARTIN GARNERS ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONORS

Senior Guard Receives First-Team Verizon College Division Accolades

Ferris State University senior guard Lucy DeMartin (Mason) has been recognized as a first-team 2003-04 Verizon College Division Women's Basketball Academic All-America selection. She previously was honored as a first-team Verizon Academic All-District IV honoree for the second consecutive campaign.

Ferris' Lucy DeMartin was honored as a first-team Academic All-America selection

A two-time (2002-04) All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division First-Team pick, DeMartin was one of five first-team national honorees in voting conducted by the College Sports Information Directors Association of America (CoSIDA). The college division includes all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and III schools, all National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member institutions and Canadian colleges and universities. DeMartin joins former Bulldog player Debbie Killips (1998-02), who received the same honor in 2001-02, as the second FSU player in the last three years to attain first-team Academic All-America kudos.

DeMartin, who presently ranks as the school's all-time scoring leader with 1,700 career points and has an active 61-game double-figure scoring streak, helped lead the Bulldogs to their second-ever NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament appearance this campaign. She has posted a school single-season record 546 points to date this season.

A 2002-03 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Great Lakes Region First-Team selection, DeMartin was named to the 2003-04 Women’s Division II Bulletin Preseason Super 16 All-America Team and chosen as the publication’s preseason GLIAC Player of the Year. Her team-leading 20.2 points per game scoring average in 2002-03 ranked first among the school’s all-time leaders and placed second in the GLIAC’s overall statistical rankings.

The 5-9 DeMartin, who was named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week earlier this season (Feb. 16), presently ranks as Ferris' leading scorer (18.2 ppg) this campaign and is currently fourth in the GLIAC's overall statistical rankings. DeMartin is also averaging a team-best 2.0 steals to date this season.

In addition to being FSU's career scoring leader, DeMartin also holds the school's career mark with 400 made free throws and is listed among Ferris' top 10 career leaders in field goals (598), steals (193), assists (349), blocked shots (34), three-point field goals (104), three-point field goal percentage (.338) and free throw percentage (.781).

The Bulldogs, who are presently 21-9 overall, compiled a second-place 14-4 GLIAC North Division mark this campaign and finished second in the league's 2003-04 postseason tournament. FSU is slated to face Ashland this Friday (March 12) in the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional at Quincy, Ill. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. (CST).

This year marks the 52nd anniversary of the Verizon Academic All-America program, which was founded by CoSIDA in 1952 to recognize collegiate student-athletes for their outstanding achievements in the classroom and on the playing field. Over the years, the Verizon Academic All-America program has grown into one of the most recognized and prestigious collegiate scholar-athlete awards nationwide, honoring student-athletes from all NCAA championship sports.

The Verizon Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon the national level.

Under an agreement with CoSIDA, Verizon, formerly GTE, has been the exclusive sponsor of the Academic All-America program since 1985. Verizon, America's literacy champion, strongly believes that literacy is a key ingredient to success and outstanding achievements in life. The Academic All-America program is an integral part of Verizon Reads, the company's national campaign to promote literacy through corporate philanthropy, partner collaboration, community outreach, and customer and employee participation.