March 1, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - Highlighted by Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Hillary Klimowicz, four Saint Joseph's women's basketball players earned Atlantic 10 postseason honors, the A-10 announced Wednesday. Klimowicz, who is only the second Hawk to earn the individual A-10 rookie honor, joins classmate Jen Oyler on the A-10 All-Rookie Team, while junior guard Ayahna Cornish was selected to the A-10 All-Conference Second Team and senior forward Faith Schutte earned A-10 All-Academic Team honors.

Making an immediate impact for the Hawks as a rookie, Klimowicz leads the Hawks in rebounds (7.4 per game) and blocks (54), while ranking third in scoring at 9.1 points per game. The 6-foot-2 center enters this weekends A-10 Championship seventh in the conference in rebounding and second in blocks. Her 54 blocks this season rank 10th all-time in Saint Joseph's program history and is the second highest single-season mark for a Hawk. A seven time A-10 Rookie of the Week, the third highest mark in conference history, Klimowicz was named to the 15th Annual Hawk Classic All-Tournament Team. She is the second Hawk to earn A-10 Rookie of the Year, joining the 1999 recipient, Susan Moran.

A 6-foot-1 guard, Oyler has shown little trouble in adjusting to the collegiate game in her rookie season. The fifth leading scorer on Saint Joseph's at 6.8 points per game, Oyler currently leads Saint Joseph's with 49 three pointers made, tying for 10th in the A-10. In December, Oyler earned 15th Annual Hawk Classic All-Tournament honors and an A-10 Rookie of the Week distinction after helping the Hawks to the title game. The duo of Klimowicz and Oyler are the first Saint Joseph's teammates to earn A-10 All-Rookie Team honors in the same season and are the ninth and 10th Hawks, respectively, to earn the selection.

"It's a credit to their hard work and dedication this season that Hillary and Jen earned distinctions," said Saint Joseph's Head Coach Cindy Griffin. "With Hillary earning Rookie of the Year and Jen being named to the All-Rookie Team, our future looks very promising."

A-10 All-Conference Second Team honoree Ayahna Cornsh.

The 2005-06 season was a breakout year for Cornish as she led the Hawks in scoring (12.1 points per game), assists (2.36 per game) and steals (1.55 spg) before suffering a season-ending ACL tear at Massachusetts on February 5. Ranking among the league leaders in scoring, Cornish led the Hawks to the 11th Annual Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic title in December. The shooting guard was named MVP after scoring 12 of her team-high 20 points in the second half of the title game. Cornish is the 50th Hawk to earn A-10 All-Conference honors and first since the 2003-04 season.

"It's gratifying to see Ayahna recognized for her play even though she missed the final portion of the season with injury," Griffin said. "Her high level of play was obviously apparent this year before her injury and I am sure she will use this honor as motivation to return to that level."

Posting her best all-around season in the Crimson and Gray, Schutte is averaging a career-best 9.3 points per game and is second on the team in rebounding at 4.9 boards per contest. A 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team selection, Schutte was named to the 2005 Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team this past December after averaging 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and helping the Hawks to the tournament title. An English major with a 3.86 grade point average, Schutte is a seven-time member of the Saint Joseph's Athletic Director's Honor Roll and five-time Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree. A 2004-05 Big 5 All-Academic Team selection and 2005 recipient of the Reverend Emory Ross Award for Academic Excellence, Schutte has earned Dean's List acknowledgements every semester. Schutte is the seventh consecutive Hawk to receive the A-10 honor and 18th all-time.

"I am glad to see Faith earn the award amongst her peers," said Griffin. "She is a tireless worker both on the court and in the classroom and you almost expect this of her."

Joining Schutte on the All-Academic Team is Xavier's Tara Boothe, Saona Chapman of Richmond, George Washington's Kenan Cole, Tyler McIlwraith of Saint Louis and Nicole Sinclair of Duquesne. McIlwraith was also named A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year.

Jazmine Adair of George Washington, Ashley Edwards of St. Bonaventure and Richmond's Sarah Williams join Klimowicz and Oyler on the All-Rookie Team.

Cornish is joined on the A-10 All-Conference Second Team by Lisa Carrol and Jada Jefferson of Fordham, Kate Mills and Pam Rosanio of Massachusetts, Safi Mojidi and Tanya Rhodes of Rhode Island, McIlwraith of Saint Louis and Dayton's Jennifer Strong.

Saint Joseph's opens play at the Atlantic 10 Championship this Friday versus the 12th seed Fordham. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.