Greenwood, Ind. – (3/27/2024) – Gwynedd Mercy University seniors, Ava Casale (Washington Township, N.J.) and Natalie O'Neill (Philadelphia, Pa.) as well as junior Alexis Eagan (Drexel Hill, Pa.) were recognized as some of the Nation's top student-athletes with their selection to the 2023-2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Women's Basketball Academic All-District Team (.PDF). The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the Nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. In order to be nominated, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically and maintained at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) while competing in 90 percent of the institution's games/contests/sets played or starting at least 66 percent of the games/contests/sets.
 
Casale (26gp-26gs) joined her fellow seniors in the starting lineup and averaged 10.5 PPG (274 points) as the Griffins' top perimeter threat (55-of-189 3PT; .291). She also recorded 84 rebounds (3.2/game), 44 assists (1.7/game), two blocks (0.07/game), and 29 steals (1.1/game). Casale scored a career-high 22 points in the season opener with a career-high five three-point baskets versus King's College (PA) (W, 61-56 on Nov. 8) and surpassed both career marks with 23 points and six three-pointers against Rowan University (L, 64-93 on Nov. 27). Academically, the accounting and finance dual major is now a two-time member of the CSC Academic All-District Team (2022-2023, 2023-2024). She is a three-time member of the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) All-Academic Team (2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023) and a four-time member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Academic Elite (S2022, F2022, S2023, F2023).
 
O'Neill (26gp-26gs) joined her fellow seniors in the starting lineup and led the Griffins on the glass with 8.2 rebounds per game (RPG) (214 rebounds). She made two appearances on the AEC Weekly Honor Roll (Nov. 27, Dec. 11) and recorded three double-doubles (Nov. 11, Dec. 6, Jan. 10) with the second such feat including a career-high 16 rebounds. O'Neill helped anchor the Red and Gold defense with 15 blocks and 26 steals and supported her effort on the boards with 5.1 PPG. Academically, the early childhood and special education dual major is a three-time member of the AEC All-Academic Team (2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023) and a five-time member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Academic Elite (F2021, S2022, F2022, S2023, F2023).
 
Eagan (26gp-0gs) was Gwynedd Mercy University's top reserve (26.3 minutes per game) and she finished with career-highs in PPG (7.7), RPG (6.7), assists per game (1.9 APG), blocks per game (0.2 BPG), and steal per game (1.6 SPG). She recorded a career-high 12 rebounds in a 93-63 win over Penn State Abington (Nov. 11) and recorded her first career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 77-56 win at Lancaster Bible College (Dec. 8). Academically, the business management major is a two-time member of the AEC All-Academic Team (2021-2022, 2022-2023) and a five-time member of the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Academic Elite (F2021, S2022, F2022, S2023, F2023)

The Academic All-America program is conducted by the members of the CSC and separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First, Second, and Third Team Academic All-America honorees will be announced April 16, 2024.