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 Yoneko Allen has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District III first team with a 3.98 GPA as a triple major |
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Feb. 20, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina University women's basketball standout Yoneko Allen has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District III first team it was announced today. Allen has maintained a 3.98 grade point average as a triple major in Sport Management, Business Administration and Law, and Marketing, while leading the Cats to their most wins since becoming a Division I program.
"Yoneko is extremely bright, competitive and a very hard worker," praised WCU head coach Beth Dunkenberger. "Her energy on the court is matched in the classroom and this is a well deserved honor. Our goal as a team is to be among the top 25 in the nation in basketball as well as academics and she leads the way for us in both of these areas."
Allen, a Gray Court, S.C., native, has certainly been a leader for the Catamounts in all areas including academics, athletics and community service. On the court, she is the team's third leading scorer and 14th in the SoCon, averaging 11.4 points per game overall and 11.7 ppg in conference play. Allen also currently leads the team as well as leading the league in 3-point field goals with 56 (2.33/g). The junior has continued to outdo herself this season, breaking her career-high mark in points on three occasions so far. Most recently, Allen recorded 23 points to lead all scorers in the win over Furman on Jan. 27. She also recently posted 12 points in a win against Wofford (Feb. 1), all coming from 3-point range, four field goals in a win at conference leader Chattanooga (Feb. 6), all from 3-point range, and 15 points at Georgia Southern (Feb. 10), nine of which came from behind the arc.
As a captain this year, Allen has been a motivator for her teammates as they have accomplished something that has never been done in WCU women's basketball history. The Catamounts' recent win over the College of Charleston (Feb. 17) gave WCU 18 for the season, the first time the program has recorded as many wins since becoming a Division I program in 1981. The victory also made one more win than the program had all last year. At 18-6, Western is boasting its best record in 26 years and at 11-4 in the conference, they are enjoying their best SoCon record ever.
Allen is also committed to helping out the community, serving in many capacities. She has volunteered with her teammates at the Community Table, a local soup kitchen, as well as running local basketball clinics. Allen has participated in canned food drives with her sorority along with a coat drive this winter. She also tutors local elementary students.
By virtue of her district first team honor, Allen will be a candidate for Academic All-America honors. Last season, she was a district second team pick, while earning recognition as an Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholar. This year, Allen has been selected as a TIAA-CREF SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week for Dec. 11, as well as being named the Arby's/Catamount Student-Athlete of the Month for December.
The Lady Cats travel to UNC Greensboro for a 3:00 pm tip-off against the Spartans this Saturday, Feb. 22, before heading back home to finish out the season against Appalachian State (Feb. 25) and Furman (Mar. 1) in the Ramsey Center. The previously postponed Education Day at the RAC has been rescheduled for the ASU game on the 25th. Tip-off is at noon.
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