CLINTON, S.C. – Sophomore Daniella Velez of the Presbyterian College women's basketball team was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team on Tuesday (March 24). 

The award honors the nation's top student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in the classroom. Velez met the rigorous standards required to earn a spot on this prestigious list.

Velez had a productive sophomore campaign for the Blue Hose this past season. She played in all 30 games for Presbyterian, making 22 starts. She averaged 5.4 points per game, scoring in double figures four times. She closed out the regular season against Longwood on Feb. 28 with a career-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field.

Velez delivered for the Blue Hose on both ends of the floor. She finished second on the team in made three pointers with 29. She was also second on the team in assists with 40. Defensively, Velez had 36 steals, ranking third on the team. She also blocked nine shots on the season to tie for second on the team.

Not just productive on the court, Velez also excelled in the classroom. Majoring in Psychology, Velez earned the prestigious Kay Yow Servant Leader award. Velez was one of a select few women's basketball players in the nation across all divisions of college basketball to earn this impressive honor, which recognizes people of great character who put the needs of others before their own, who uplift others, and who do it with grace and humility. 

This is the first CSC academic honor for Velez.

To be considered for CSC Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, must have participated in at least 90 percent of the team's games (regular season and postseason), and must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically.