[April 7, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Gulf South Conference has released the 2007-08 Winter All-Academic Teams, and Academic Honor Roll that includes eight Southern Arkansas University student-athletes, with the Lady Muleriders’ Goldie White being named to the league’s all-academic team. A total of 23 student-athletes across the conference were named to the winter all-academic team, which consists only of men’s and women’s basketball members.

The GSC All-Academic Teams are nominated by the conference sports information directors (SIDs), and selected by the SIDs and Faculty Athletic Representatives in a joint vote. Nominees must have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be a freshman or first-year participant.

Members of the GSC Academic Honor Roll must post a minimum of a cumulative 3.00 GPA and have competed during their respective season. All student-athletes, including freshmen and first-year participants, are eligible for the honor roll.

A total of 11 players were named to the women’s all-academic team, with White being one of six selected from the GSC West Division. A 5-8 guard from Hampton, White is a health, kinesiology and recreation (HKR) major and sports a 3.32 GPA. The sophomore was a member of last year’s GSC Academic Honor Roll, and is a member of the SAU Dean’s List (3.50 GPA or better). White was second in the league in scoring (16.8) this past season and was previously named a Second Team All-GSC selection. She was named to the Delta State Margaret Wade Memorial Classic All-Tournament Team this year, and in scoring 437 points on the season, became a member of the SAU 400-Point Club for the second consecutive year. White led Southern Arkansas this season in scoring, minutes played (35.7), three-point field goal percentage (.293), rebounds (5.6), assists (64), and steals (54).

Joining White on the women’s GSC Academic Honor Roll are Calisha Kirk, a freshman with a 3.12 in criminal justice; Angelica Patterson, a freshman exercise science major with a 3.09; Kristina (Kristy) Shinn, a freshman undecided major with a 3.05; and Ebony Walker, a freshman with a 3.30 in HKR.

Muleriders on the academic honor roll include Thaddeus (Scotty) Lott, a junior with a 3.40 in accounting; Mori Turpin, a junior human performance, recreation and community service major with a 3.00 GPA; and David Verwers, a freshman with a 4.00 in business administration-organizational management.