Basketball

Three Privateers Earn Southland Conference All‑Academic Honors

Graduate students Lauren Banks, Aaliyah Ellis and Jayla Owen celebrated for athletic and academic excellence

Triple Triumph for Privateers

The Southland Conference has revealed its newest All‑Academic team, and this year the Privateers boast three honorees who exemplify the blend of competitive drive and scholarly dedication. The recognition marks a rare concentration of talent and academic rigor within the program.

Lauren Banks, a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, carries a perfect 4.0 GPA while contributing 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game on the hardwood. Her steady presence has helped anchor a defense that ranks among the conference’s best.

Aaliyah Ellis, a Psychology major, started 16 contests and shot an impressive 92.3 percent from the free‑throw line. With a 3.8 cumulative GPA, she combines precision under pressure with a commitment to her studies.

Spotlight on Scholars

Jayla Owen, a native of Quebec, has appeared in 28 games this season and maintains a 3.9 GPA in Psychology. Her consistent contributions off the bench have added depth to the roster, illustrating how academic perseverance can translate into athletic reliability.

What makes this trio especially noteworthy is that it represents the first time since 2019 that three Privateers have earned Southland Conference All‑Academic honors, underscoring a program‑wide shift toward valuing both the mind and the game.

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