Dani Hoover, Melissa Gilkey Lead Four WUSTL Women’s Basketball All-UAA Selections

Rochester, N.Y., February 29, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis women’s basketball team had four student-athletes earn All-University Athletic Association (UAA) honors, led by senior Dani Hoover who was a first-team selection, as announced Wednesday by the Association.

In addition to Hoover on the first team, freshman Melissa Gilkey was named the UAA Rookie of the Year as a member of the all-UAA second team. Seniors Brianne Monahan and Bethany Morrison both received honorable mention honors.

“We are extremely excited to have four all-UAA honorees this season,” head coach Nancy Fahey said. “These honors are a tribute to all of the hard work they have put in to help make our program successful. Dani has been an outstanding player each of her four seasons at Washington University, and is very deserving of first-team honors. She is a leader on and off the court, and always gives a great effort.”

Hoover leads Washington U. with 11.2 points per game, 41 three-pointers and 37 steals this season, and is second on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game and 63 assists. She scored in double-figures 15 times this season, including 11 of 14 UAA games. Hoover ranks fifth in the UAA in three-point field-goal percentage (.387) and sixth in three-pointers made per game (1.6). She was an honorable mention selection as a junior.

Gilkey is the fourth Washington University player to be named UAA Rookie of the Year since the award’s inception in the 2000-01 season, joining Alex Hoover (2007-08), Shanna-Lei Dacanay (2005-06) and Hallie Hutchens (2001-02). Gilkey is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game in her first collegiate season. She also leads the Bears in rebounding (7.0 per game) and blocked shots (28). In UAA games, Gilkey averaged 11.9 points and 7.0 rebounds for Washington U.

On Feb. 14, Gilkey was named the UAA Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week after averaging a double-double of 16 points and 10.5 rebounds in wins over Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University.

“It is a great honor for Melissa to be named Rookie of the Year,” Fahey said. “She has been a key contributor all season while starting every game, and raised her level of play even higher during the conference schedule.”

Monahan is third on the team averaging 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. She posted the first double-double of her career with career-highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bears to a 76-59 win at New York University on Feb. 19. Morrison leads the UAA and ranks 24th in NCAA Division III in assist-turnover ratio (1.1), while ranking second in the UAA in assists per game (4.0). She has 99 assists this season, including a career-high 11 in the Bears’ 86-74 win over Carnegie Mellon University on Feb. 12.

“Brianne and Bethany have worked hard throughout their careers at Washington University and receiving all-UAA honorable mention honors is a great way for them to conclude their careers,” Fahey said.

Washington University finished second in the conference standings this season, marking the 24th time in 25 seasons of UAA play that the Bears finished in the top two. The Bears (20-5, 10-4 UAA) begins its 23rd-straight NCAA Division III Tournament appearance by traveling to Danville, Ky., to face Ferrum College at 5 p.m. (ET) on Friday, March 2.