May 5, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's senior Debbie Bateman has been named the Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Student-Athlete of the Year in voting conducted among the Conference's sports information directors. It marks the second consecutive year that she's earned the honor.

Joining Bateman on the Atlantic 10 All-Academic team is junior Colleen Greway, from Westmont, N.J. (Haddon Twp. H.S.), who earned All-Conference Second Team honors in 2009. She was a member of the Varsity 8 that captured the Hawks' first-ever Atlantic 10 title. Greway also rowed for the Varsity 8 as it earned the Cal Cup at the 2009 San Diego Crew Classic and won the 2009 Jesuit Invitational. It marks the second consecutive year that Greway has earned Academic All-Conference honors.

Bateman was a member of the winning Varsity 8 and Quad crews at the Atlantic 10 Championships, helping the Hawks to first-ever gold medals in those events, while SJU finished third in the team standings. She earned All-Conference First Team honors this season, after being a second-team selection in 2008.

A native of Longport, N.J. (Mainland Regional H.S.), the three-year co-captain was a part of Saint Joseph's Varsity 8 that captured the Cal Cup title at the 2009 San Diego Crew Classic and won the title at the 2009 Jesuit Invitational.

Bateman, who owns a cumulative grade-point average of 3.95, will graduate with honors from Saint Joseph's on May 16, with a degree in marketing. She is a three-time Academic All-Conference selection and was the Philadelphia Inquirer's Academic All-Area Rowing Performer of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.