FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State senior guard Jaleesa Ross has been named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, it was announced Wednesday. In order to be eligible, student-athletes must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition.
The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Clearly, Ross has done that. She's already earned her Bachelor's degree in kinesiology and is working towards her master's, all while leading the Bulldogs on the basketball court. Ross is the only WAC athlete on the 30-player list.
A Pinole native, Ross led the WAC in scoring last season, averaging 17.4 points per game. Already Fresno State's career 3-point record holder for makes, Ross is on tap to break several more records this season, including the Bulldog career scoring record and the NCAA record for most career 3-point field goals.
The 30-player field will be narrowed to 10 finalists in late January, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system, which includes votes from fans, media and coaches. The winner will be announced at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Indianapolis.
2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Women's Basketball Candidates
Name, Position, School?
Kachine Alexander, Guard, Iowa
Erin Anthony, Forward, Army
Angie Bjorklund, Guard/Forward, Tennessee
Jessica Breland, Forward, North Carolina
Victoria Dunlap, Forward, Kentucky
Dawn Evans, Guard, James Madison
Amber Harris, Forward, Xavier
Ify Ibekwe, Forward, Arizona
Amy Jaeschke, Center, Northwestern
Alyssa Karel, Guard, Wisconsin
Michelle Kirk, Forward, American
Jantel Lavender, Center, Ohio State
Maya Moore, Forward, Connecticut
Kayla Pedersen, Forward, Stanford
Ta'Shia Phillips, Center, Xavier
Julie Piper, Forward, Eastern Washington
Jeanette Pohlen, Guard, Stanford
Lauren Prochaska, Forward, Bowling Green
Erica Prosser, Guard, Lehigh
Sam Quigley, Guard, DePaul
Liz Repella, Guard, West Virginia
Jence Rhoads, Guard, Vanderbilt
Danielle Robinson, Guard, Oklahoma
Jaleesa Ross, Guard, Fresno State
Sam Schuett, Forward, Creighton
Brittney Smith, Forward, Dartmouth
Helena Sverrisdottir, Guard/Forward, TCU
Kayla Tetschlag, Guard/Forward, Green Bay
Jasmine Thomas, Guard, Duke
Courtney Vandersloot, Guard, Gonzaga