Fresno State Athletics
Five From Women's Basketball Named Academic All-WAC
4/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 7, 2006
FRESNO, Calif.- Five members of the Fresno State women's basketball squad were named to the 2005-06 winter academic All-WAC team on Friday morning.
A total of 126 winter student-athletes were named to the list, which includes men's and women's basketball in addition to women's swimming and diving and women's gymnastics. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have completed at least one academic year, have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests.
Seniors Toni Atherley (3.31 GPA, criminology) and Faith Probst (3.48, food and nutrition sciences), junior Chantella Perera (3.68, business-management) and sophomores Erica Henry (3.08, undeclared) and Kendra Walker-Roche (3.38, undeclared) were all honored. All five players are two-time recipients.
Over the last two years combined, Fresno State has totaled 11 academic All-WAC selections under head coach Adrian Wiggins. In addition, the Bulldogs have posted a 3.0 team GPA in the two semesters during his tenure.
Freshmen and transfers earning academic All-WAC recognition will be announced in June.
Atherley participated in 26 games and averaged 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds while establishing career-high totals in scoring, rebounding and minutes played.
Probst, the only player in school history to play on three different postseason teams, played in 30 games, making three starts and averaging 3.3 ppg and 2.5 rpg.
Perera ranked third on the team in scoring (11.8 ppg) while also finishing second in assists (98). She led the 'Dogs in three-pointers (48), was ranked among the national leaders in free throw shooting for much of the year and scored in double-figures 19 times.
Henry competed in 31 of the 32 contests, averaging 3.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while ranking second on the team in blocked shots (30).
Walker-Roche saw playing time in 20 games, making 9-32 from the field and 7-19 from three-point territory.
Fresno State finished 24-8 overall in 2005-06, representing the best season in school history. For the first time ever, the `Dogs qualified for the postseason for the second straight season and recorded two convincing home victories before falling 64-61 at eventual champion Kansas State in the WNIT. The memorable season featured numerous highlights which included: a 15-1 home record, second-place WAC finish and 20 double-digit victories.
