Balian and Semansky Garner Academic All-District 7 Accolades
2/3/2011 4:16:23 PM | Women's Basketball
Montana State women's basketball players Sarah Balian and Rachel Semansky were named to the Capital One Academic All-District 7 teams on Thursday afternoon.
For the second consecutive year Montana State forward Sarah Balian has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District 7 First Team for her efforts on the court and in the classroom.
Balian was one of five players chosen to the first team that represents NCAA Division I schools from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Also named to the first team are Lacey Boshe, Missouri State, Jacqui Kalin, Northern Iowa, Sam Schuett, Creighton, and Aubrey Vandiver, Wyoming. All five will move onto the national ballot for Academic All-America honors as voted by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The award is the highest academic accolade at the collegiate level.
Balian, a 6-foot-1 native of Shoreline, Wash., is averaging 12.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. She became Montana State's all-time blocks leader last year, and recently moved into MSU's top eight in scoring and rebounding. Last year's Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, she has notched 16 double-figure scoring games; eight double-digit rebounding games; and five double-doubles this winter.
As a senior, Balian boasts a 3.95 grade-point average in nursing.
Bobcat sophomore Rachel Semansky was named to the third-team- her first such honor.
A native of Highwood, Semansky is averaging 11.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Her 10.0 Big Sky Conference rebounding average is second in the league. On the season, Semansky is shooting a Big Sky best 61 percent from the field.
Semansky has a 3.97 grade-point average in elementary education.
“Both Sarah and Rachel, along with many of our other players are tremendous role models in terms of their work ethic both on and off the court,” said MSU head coach Tricia Binford. “Our program prides itself in athletics and academics and it's nice to see our kids get rewarded for their efforts.”
Both Balian and Semansky played major roles in Montana State's recent ten-game win streak. The Bobcats are 12-9 overall and 6-1 in Big Sky Conference action.
