Johansen Leads Three Huskers on Academic All-Big 12 Squad

Lincoln - Three Nebraska women’s basketball players were honored for their achievements in the classroom by earning academic All-Big 12 Conference honors, the league announced Wednesday.

Senior Jina Johansen led the trio of Husker honorees by claiming her third straight first-team academic All-Big 12 award. The 5-7 point guard from Dannebrog, Neb., carries a 3.696 grade-point average as a nutrition and dietetics major, while ranking among the Big 12 Conference leaders in assists.

Johansen was joined on the first team by first-team academic All-Big 12 selection Jessica Gerhart. The 6-2 sophomore forward from Fenton, Iowa, is also a nutrition and dietitics major. She also ranks as Nebraska’s third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder on the season.

Sophomore Chelsea Aubry added second-team academic All-Big 12 accolades. The 6-2 forward from Kitchener, Ontario, who has not declared a major, ranks as Nebraska’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder this season.

Overall, 46 student-athletes were named to the women’s basketball academic All-Big 12 teams.

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and media relations offices, the women’s basketball academic all-league squad consisted of 37 first team members combined with nine on the second team. First team members include those who have maintained a 3.20 or better grade point average, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of her team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

The student-athletes on the squads will participate in the 2005 Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament, scheduled for March 8-10 and 12 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

2005 Women’s Basketball Academic All-Big 12 Team
First Team (3.20-plus grade point average)
Name, School, Class, Major, Hometown
Jessica Gerhart, Nebraska, So., Nutritional Science, Fenton, Iowa
Jina Johansen, Nebraska, Sr., Nutritional Science, Dannebrog, Neb.
Steffanie Blackmon, Baylor, Sr., Marketing, Dallas, Texas
Chanelle Fox, Baylor, Jr.-RS, Graduate Studies -Health & Human Performance, Houston, Texas
Whitney Law, Colorado, Jr., Kinesiology, Littleton, Colo.
Sarah Lini, Colorado, Sr., Finance, Aarhus, Denmark
Mary Fox, Iowa State, Sr., Communications/Sociology minor, Lakewood, Ohio
Lisa Kriener, Iowa State, Sr., Art & Design, St. Ansgar, Iowa
Lyndsey Medders, Iowa State, So., Sports Management, Los Angeles, Calif.
Anne O’Neil, Iowa State, Sr.-RS, Communications/Sociology minor, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tracy Paustian, Iowa State, Sr., Elementary Education, Walcott, Iowa
Megan Ronhovde, Iowa State, So., Pre-Business, Barrett, Minn.
Brittany Wilkins, Iowa State, Jr.-RS, Exercise & Sport Science, Arlington, Neb.
Crystal Kemp, Kansas, Jr., Speech Language and Hearing, Topeka, Kan.
Blair Waltz, Kansas, Sr., Economics/French, Leawood, Kan.
Laurie Koehn, Kansas State, Sr., Elementary Education, Hesston, Kan.
Megan Mahoney, Kansas State, Sr., Family Studies & Human Services, Sturgis, S.D.
Jessica McFarland, Kansas State, Jr., Architectural Engineering, Derby, Kan.
Twiggy McIntyre, Kansas State, So., Kinesiology, Sapulpa, Okla.
Kendra Wecker, Kansas State, Sr., Electronic Journalism, Marysville, Kan.
Christelle N’Garsanet, Missouri, Jr., Accountancy, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Megan Roney, Missouri, Sr., Marketing, Independence, Mo.
Carlynn Savant, Missouri, So., Psychology, Bedford, Texas
Laura Andrews, Oklahoma, Jr., Nursing, Washington, Okla.
Beky Preston, Oklahoma, Jr., Psychology, Albuquerque, N.M.
Lauren Shoush, Oklahoma, Sr., Elementary Education, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Antoinette Wadsworth, Oklahoma, Jr., Psychology, Grand Prairie, Texas
Chelsi Welch, Oklahoma, So., Psychology, Plainview, Texas
Brittany Dietz, Oklahoma State, Sr., Education, Osborne, Kan.
Destanie Sykes, Oklahoma State, So., Undeclared, Duncanville, Texas
Lynsie Tischhauser, Oklahoma State, Sr., Physical Education, Salina, Kan.
Jamie Carey, Texas, Sr., Graduate Studies - Sports Management, Thornton, Colo.
Mindy Garrison, Texas A&M, Sr., Recreation, Parks, Tourism Science, San Marcos, Texas
Jennifer Wilks, Texas A&M, So., Entomology, Frankston, Texas
Brooke Baughman, Texas Tech, So., Exercise Sport Science, Canyon, Texas
Chesley Dabbs, Texas Tech, Jr., Finance and General Business, Plano, Texas
Erin Grant, Texas Tech, Jr., Marketing and General Business, Arlington, Texas

Second Team (3.00 to 3.19 GPA)
Name, School, Class, Major, Hometown
Chelsea Aubry, Nebraska, So., Undecided, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Veronica Johns-Richardson, Colorado, Sr., Sociology, Fullerton, Calif.
Brie Madden, Kansas State, Sr., Criminology, Arlington, Texas
Blair Hardiek, Missouri, So., Communication, Effingham, Ill.
Erin Higgins, Oklahoma, So., Undecided, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Leah Rush, Oklahoma, So., Communications, Amarillo, Texas
Krista Sanchez, Oklahoma, So., Business, Springdale, Ark.
Coco Reed, Texas, Jr., Education, Houston, Texas
Alesha Robertson, Texas Tech, So., Exercise Sport Science, Plainview, Texas