USD Women's Basketball 1992-1993

ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS: A WINNING COMBINATION At the University of San Diego, Education is synonymous with Athletics: the two go "hand-in-hand". The USO women's basketball team has enjoyed much success in the world of academia. They compiled a 3.14 grade point average in 1991-'92 and placed nine players on the West Coast Conference "Scholar-Athlete" Honor Roll: graduated seniors Julie Doria, Debbie Gollnick, Lynda Jones and Julie Lemery and current Toreros Serena Eiermann, Chris Enger, Jill Shaver, Melisa Sortino and Angie Straub. Earning spots on the WCC "All-Academic Team", which encompassed all sports which the WCC sponsored, were Chris Enger, Debbie Gollnick, Lynda Jones and Jill Shaver. Receiving honors is rewarding, but commitment and a strong desire to excel are the keys to academic success. The players, staff and administration all share these ideals. The USO Athletic Department has recently created an avenue to support its student-athletes in the academic arena. The "Accelerated Study Program" helps students new to the University get acclimated to the "USO way of doing things", according to program director Don Smith. Most importantly, the program helps all students to stay "on top" of their studies through their seasons of competition. In addition to sessions on study skills, note taking and library skills, students have direct access to IBM and MacIntosh computers located in the Study Room at the Sports Center. The success rate of all athletes at USO is very high. However, the NCAA has recently passed legislation that requires all NCAA Division I programs to publish their graduation rates (beginning with the 1984-'85 season). "The NCAA graduation report provides opportunities to report figures for all athletes who complete programs," responds Regina Sullivan, Assistant Athletic Director at USO. "This also demonstrates the commitment on the part of (all) NCAA members to the academic success of Former Torero Paula Mascari, who graduated in May of 1990 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and a grade point average of 3. 70, was named the WCC "Female Scholar-Athlete Of - The Year" following her senior year. Paula is the first female athlete at USO to be presented with this prestigious award which is the highest honor bestowed by the West Coast Conference. Lynda Jones (44)

our student-athletes." While the average graduation rate for all students at USO is 53%, that figure for student-athletes at USO is 69%. The refined graduation rate (includes students who have transferred into USO after their first year) is 91 %, a figure that ranks USO at the top in national figures. Student-athletes on the women's basketball team reflect the success seen throughout the entire Athletic Department. The coaching staff is committed to ensuring every opportunity for stu– dents to graduate. All of the athletes who have played four years for Head Coach Kathy Marpe have either graduated or are currently progressing toward their degrees. Among the majors of those who graduated are: Business Administration, Communications, Computer Science, Education, Liberal Arts, Psychology, Religious Studies and Sociology. The majority of student-athletes are able to complete their degree and graduate within four years - a task that is not easy to achieve! Academics and Athletics...at USD, it's aWinning Combination!

Paula Mascari

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