Women's Basketball

BEYRUTI NAMED FINALIST FOR KODAK/WBCA ALL-AMERICA TEAM

ATLANTA, Ga. (3/8/07) - Sophomore guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) has been named a finalist for the 2007 Kodak/ Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America Basketball Team for NCAA Division III, as announced by the WBCA in cooperation with Eastman Kodak Company.

Beyruti, who becomes the fourth player under Head Coach Michele Sharp to earn the regional All-America honor, was one of five Region 3 players selected after leading the Cougars to a 22-3 regular season mark.

The Cougars are currently 26-3, the second-highest win total in program history, after claiming the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship and winning a pair of NCAA Division III opening round games to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

A NJAC First-Team All-Star, Beyruti knocked down the game winning three-pointer as time expired to give the Cougars a 62-59 victory over William Paterson University in the NJAC title game.

In the NCAA Second-Round upset victory over fourth-ranked Messiah College, Beyruti hit seven three-pointers and scored 30 points as the Cougars move on to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since before she was born with the 89-84 win over the host Falcons.

The sophomore sensation has established herself as the most prolific three-point shooter in program history after setting three school records this year.

She broke the single-game three-point record on January 24, 2007, when she drained nine three-pointers en-route to a career-high 33 points in the Cougars' 82-48 victory over Rutgers-Camden. Her 108 three-pointers thus far this season has shattered her own single-season record she set a year ago as a freshman and are currently the sixth highest single-season total all-time in NCAA Division III. Beyruti is also the program's all-time three-point leader with 171 career three-pointers.

The 40 finalists, who are voted upon by WBCA member coaches in each of the eight WBCA geographical regions, are now in the running for selection to the 10-member Kodak/WBCA All-America Team. WBCA CEO Beth Bass will announce the Kodak/WBCA All-America Basketball Team at the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Banquet on Thursday, March 15, 2007, at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.