RICHMOND, Ky. – Colette Cole, a member of the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team, was recognized last week for her academic accomplishments when she was selected to the 2010
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
As a member of the district’s first team, Cole will advance to the national ballot and have a chance to earn Academic All-America honors. She also earned a spot on the 2009 Academic All-District IV First Team.
Cole posted a cumulative 3.98 grade point average as an undergraduate student majoring in sport management and pursuing a minor in business. During her college career she has only had one grade lower than an A. In December, Cole earned her bachelor’s degree, graduating in three and a half years. She began graduate school in January. Cole capped her undergrad career with a perfect 4.0 GPA for the fall semester.
She is a three-time Ohio Valley Conference Medal of Honor winner, given annually to the student-athlete who achieves the highest grade point average in a conference-sponsored sport, and a three-time member of the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll. Cole is on pace to become the only student-athlete in EKU women’s basketball history to earn the OVC Medal of Honor four times.
On the court, the forward from Booneville, Ky., is fifth on the team in scoring (5.7 ppg) and is second on the squad in rebounding (4.3 rpg). She scored a career-best 24 points on Nov. 27 against Towson. She ranks ninth in the OVC with an average of 0.7 blocks per game.
The Academic All-America program honors student-athletes who excel both on the playing field and in the classroom. The awards are sponsored and voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.
To qualify, a student-athlete must be of at least sophomore standing, have been enrolled at their current school for at least one year, have a minimum 3.30 grade point average, and be a starter or significant reserve on their team. District IV is comprised of NCAA Division I schools in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.
Next up for the Lady Colonels is a long road trip to face Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Illinois. EKU will try to stop a nine-game losing streak to the Redhawks on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET.