Tulsa senior Sarah Newby and junior Kara Pongonis have been named to the 2005 ESPN Academic All-District VI University Division First Team, while senior Becky Heidotten was selected to the second team. TU placed three players on the 10-player roster, which was more than any school in the district.
A 62 forward from Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Newby is a two-time member of the ESPN Academic All-District VI Team, but is a first time selection to the first team. Last season, Newby was named to the All-District VI Second Team. This season, she has played in 20 games and is averaging
2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. Newby has reached double figures nine times during her two seasons at TU, and posted a season-high 10 points twice this season. She completed her bachelors degree in management with a 4.00 grade-point-average in May of 2004, and is the only player on this years team attending graduate school. A two-time member of the TU Presidents List and 2004-05 selection to the Western Athletic Conference All-Academic Team, Newby has maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA while pursing a masters degree in business administration.
Pongonis, a 55 guard from Springdale, Arkansas, is a first-time performer on the All-District VI Team. A communication major with a
3.96 GPA, she has been named to the both the TU Presidents List and Deans List during her career and is a two-time member of the all-WAC Academic Team. This season, she has started all 22 games and is the Golden Hurricanes third-leading scorer with 9.5 points per game, and leads the team in free throw percentage (.839) and three-point field goals (46). Pongonis has scored in double figures 11 times during the
2004-05 campaign and has registered three or more three-pointers in six games. Earlier this season, Pongonis became the schools career leader for three-point field goals, and scored a career-high 24 points against Santa Clara.
A 63 forward from Florissant, Missouri, Heidotten sports a 3.83 GPA as a nursing major, and is a first-time selection to the All-District VI Team. She is a three-time member of the TU Deans List and all-WAC Academic Team, a two-time performer on the Athletic Directors Honor Roll and was named to the Presidents List as a sophomore. She was recently selected to the 3rd Annual Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence Watch List presented by Creamland Dairies. The award honors college seniors for their athletic and academic achievement as well as their community involvement.
This season, Heidotten is fifth on the team in scoring with 7.9 points per game, and leads Tulsa in field goal percentage (.530). She is the schools 10th all-time leading scorer with 732 points and ranks first for career field goal percentage (.561). Heidotten has reached double figures in seven games this season, including a season-high 15 points against Fresno State.