IRVING, Texas — Four BYU women's basketball players were named to the 2024 Winter Academic All-Big 12 Team, the Big 12 Conference announced on Tuesday.
“We are thrilled to honor Big 12 student-athletes for their academic success,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said. “These individuals have achieved greatness both on the field and in their academic pursuits. I would like to congratulate each and every one of our Academic All-Big 12 and Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipients.”
Emma Calvert (Information Systems) and Heather Hamson (Exercise Science) were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team while Kaylee Smiler (Masters of Biology) and Lauren Gustin (post-bac studies) earned second-team honors.
First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
BYU completes the 2023-24 athletic year with 197 total academic all-conference honorees, 193 of which were awarded by the Big 12. Women’s track and field (27), women’s swim and dive (24) and football (23) led all sports in academic recognitions. After 57 and 58 Big 12 honorees in Fall and Winter, respectively, the Cougars’ Spring all-academic teams totaled 78 athletes.
Bella Folino of women’s soccer, Eliza Millar-Crossman of women’s gymnastics and Chloe Temples of softball earned the Cougars' most prestigious individual academic accolades in 2023-24. Folino was recognized with the NCAA’s Elite 90 Award at the College Cup while Millar-Crossman and Temples claimed Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year awards in their respective sports.