Pfeifer named first-team academic all-district; on to national ballot

FAYETTEVILLE — For the second year in a row, the University of Arkansas has a Lady Razorback named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team.

Ozark, Ark., product Sarah Pfeifer was named to the first team, which puts the industrial engineering graduate on the national ballot for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America.

"I could not be happier," UA head coach Susie Gardner said. "Sarah worked so hard to return to the court after her injury. She works hard in the classroom, and has already graduated. It’s hard to think of someone who would be more deserving of this honor."

The third-leading scorer for the 18-8 Lady Razorback basketball team, Pfeifer was named second-team all-district two years ago as a starter in 2005. She missed last season with a torn ACL, but has become the Lady’Backs’ top player from the bench in 2006-07.

Last year, Arkansas point guard Kristin Peoples was first-team all-district and third-team all-America. Pfeifer joins Peoples and her coach, Amber Nicholas Shirey, as the only Lady’Back basketball players to make the national ballot.

The longest running and most prestigeous academic honors program for collegiate athletes, the nominations are voted on by the membership of the College Sports Information Directors of America.

The academic honor adds to Pfeifer’s growing list. In January, Pfeifer was named to the 30-player watch list for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, and was Arkansas’ nominee for the SEC Community Service Team last week.