Washington University’s Melissa Gilkey Named to Women’s DIII News All-Freshman Team

St. Louis, Mo., March 20, 2012 – Washington University in St. Louis freshman forward Melissa Gilkey was one of 10 women’s basketball players to be named to the 2012 Women’s DIII News All-Freshman Team, as announced by the publication.

Gilkey received the D3Hoops.com Central Region and University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year awards after earning second-team all-UAA honors for Washington U. She started all 27 games for the Bears in her first collegiate season, finishing second on the team in scoring (10.9 ppg). Gilkey was the leading rebounder for Washington U., averaging 7.3 per game, while pulling down team-high rebounds in 15 games. She also led the team with 38 blocked shots, which ranks ninth in Washington U. history for a single season.

Gilkey tied a Washington University single-game record with seven blocked shots in the Bears’ NCAA first-round win over Ferrum College. She scored in double figures in 16 games and pulled down double-digit rebounds seven times, with three double-doubles in 2011-12. Gilkey was named the UAA Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week twice this season, on Feb. 14 and again on March 5.

Washington University concluded the 2011-12 season with a 21-6 overall record and a 10-4 mark in the UAA. The Bears finished second in the UAA and earned their 23rd-consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance, falling at Centre College, 57-55, in the second round.