May 24, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's standouts Debbie Bateman (rowing) and Rebecca Cunfer (field hockey) have been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 2 At-Large Team, as voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Bateman was a first-team selection while Cunfer was named to the second team.

Bateman, who was a second-team selection last year, was a member of the Varsity 8 crew that placed second at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship on April 19, earning the first-ever medal in the Varsity 8 for the Hawks, who finished third overall in the team standings. An All-Conference Second Team selection, she helped SJU to an unprecedented first-place finish at the Kelly Cup on Apr. 26, which signifies the city championship.

The junior from Longport, N.J. (Mainland Regional H.S.) was on the Hawks' Varsity 8 that won the Dad Vail Regatta in 2006 and made the team's first-ever trip to the Henley Regatta.

A two-time Academic All-Conference selection and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honoree in 2007, Bateman maintains a 3.93 grade point average as a marketing major.

Cunfer, who earns All-District honors for the first time, graduated from Saint Joseph's with magna cum laude honors. She was named the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year in both 2006 and 2007, and is a three-time member of the conference's All-Academic Team.

This season, she had a career-best 1.27 goals against average and received Second Team All-Atlantic 10 accolades, and was also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team. Cunfer is SJU's all-time leader in wins (41) and second all-time in shutouts (17).

With her selection to the first team, Bateman is a candidate for Academic All-America honors.