Lincoln Memorial University senior forward Megan Pittman has been named to the 2016-17 CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team, officials from the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Wednesday, March 1.
Pittman becomes the first basketball player in LMU history, men's or women's, to earn a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team. Only five other athletes wearing the Blue and Gray have been named to an Academic All-America Team; Chris Kolesnik (men's golf - 1995 and 1996), Lori Hillman-Stanley (women's tennis - 1996), Brandon Kucher (men's golf - 1998), Diogo Silvy (men's soccer - 2006) and Logan Augustine (baseball - 2016). Pittman, an All-SAC First Team member and NCAA Division II CCA All-Southeast Region second team member in 2015-16, currently leads the team in scoring and is second in rebounding and has re-written the LMU record books in several categories in her three years at the school. She currently ranks 17th in career scoring; third in rebounds, free throw percentage and defensive rebounds; fourth in rebounding average; and 10th in scoring average. The Liberty, Ky., native leads the SAC in made free throws and offensive rebounds; is second in total rebounds and rebounds per game to teammate Josey Harding; fourth in free throw percentage, fifth in scoring, sixth in three-point field goal percentage, steals and points per game; and seventh in made field goals. She is a strong candidate for not only All-SAC First Team honors for the second straight season, but SAC Player of the Year honors as well. The All-SAC teams will be announced tomorrow. With Pittman leading the charge, the team has had a record-breaking regular season as they began the 2016-17 campaign with 20 straight wins and last weekend captured their first-ever South Atlantic Conference Championship. They also earned the program's highest-ever national ranking and are the top seed in the SAC Tournament.
Only one other player from the Southeast Region joins Pittman on the Academic All-America teams, fellow SAC member Queens University of Charlotte's McKell Oliverio (pictured with Pittman). Oliverio and Pittman faced against each other Wednesday night, March 1, in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals at LMU.
After a victory over Queens, the 25-3 Lady Railsplitters now will meet Carson-Newman in the SAC Tournament semifinals at noon Saturday in Greenville, S.C.
Photos by LMU Athletics
