ORONO, Maine — University of Maine women’s basketball forward Liz Wood has been named one of 30 candidates among a national pool for the 2015-16 Senior CLASS Award.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Wood, a senior from Catlett, Virginia, is the reigning America East Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She is a two-time America East Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, two-time member of the America East All-Academic Team, three-time member of the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and the recipient of the Maine Scholar-Athlete Silver Medal.
Wood is a three-time UMaine Presidential Scholar, the Maine Dean Smith Award Winner for the top female student-athlete and the recipient of the School of Biology and Ecology Academic Award for the highest GPA in the class within the school department.
She is an America East NCAA Student Athletic Activities Council rep, a two-time WBCA Good Works Team nominee and the UMaine SAAC President. She was named to the AE Helping Hands Team 2015.
In the community, Wood started an anti-hazing poster campaign, participated in Christmas present wrapping to raise money for Ronald McDonald House, and oversees the coordination of school visits, cooking dinners at Ronald McDonald House, Toys for Tots, and a soap drive for the local homeless shelter.
On the court, Wood is an all-conference pick, a two-time all-defensive choice and was the 2015 co-defensive player of the year and the 2013 co-rookie of the year.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four and NCAA Women’s Final Four.
Standing for “Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School,” the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to 10 finalists in February, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate.
UM women host alumnae weekend
The UMaine women’s basketball team will welcome back former players for a special Alumnae Weekend Jan. 23-24 when the Black Bears host Stony Brook at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Special events will be held throughout the weekend, highlighted by an Alumnae Game at Memorial Gymnasium (The Pit) at 2 p.m. Saturday. Members of the 1985-86 and 1995-96 teams will be recognized at halftime of Sunday’s contest.
‘Military Appreciation’ game Sunday
The UMaine women’s basketball team will host the final game in the Military Appreciation series, presented by Dead River Company, when it takes on Stony Brook at 1 p.m. Sunday
Military personnel with proper identification will receive complimentary tickets at the box office for themselves and their immediate family members in attendance. Those interested in attending can call 207-581-1114 to reserve tickets.
UMaine athletics previously honored the military and their families at the Sept. 26 football game and the men’s ice hockey game on Nov. 28.
“University of Maine athletics is proud to partner with Dead River Company and focus on honoring all of our Armed Forces,” said UMaine Director of Athletics Karlton Creech. “We look forward to hosting our service men and women and their families at our athletic events.”
Colby’s Sayre preseason All-American
Colby College’s Austin Sayre of Summit, New Jersey, was named to the Inside Lacrosse 2016 Face-Off Yearbook Preseason All-American Third Team as a midfielder.
Sayre was one of 39 players to make one of the three teams. The junior was an honorable mention All-American last year by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association after scoring 27 points and dishing 13 assists for 40 points.
Sayre, who also made the All-NESCAC Second Team, has 53 goals and 24 assists for 77 points in two years. He has helped the Mules (8-7 in 2014) to two straight NESCAC playoff appearances.