by Heather Morales
Sports Editor
Senior Leslee Rogers was named to the Kodak Division III Women’s All-American Basketball Team, making her the first player from the University of La Verne to ever receive the honor.
Rogers led the women’s basketball team to its first ever post-season game, with an average of 26.1 points per game. She was third in the nation for scoring.
“It’s exciting to be recognized as one of the top offensive threats in the nation,” said Rogers.
Although she is excited, Rogers was surprised when head coach Julie Kline told her that she had been named to the team.
Only 10 players from across the nation were selected to the team by members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and Rogers was the only player selected west of the Rocky Mountains.
This year, she posted the second-highest single-game scoring total in Division III with 52 points against La Sierra University.
“I was extremely proud of her. I felt that Leslee worked hard for this honor,” said Kline.
Kline feels that this honor brings recognition to the basketball program and it puts La Verne on the map.
“I’m excited to be an All-American; I feel fortunate to be one of the 10 selected to be on the team,” said Rogers about the honor.
Rogers came to La Verne from the University of Alaska, Anchorage two years ago. She said that the players and people at La Verne are more personable than at the Division I school she had been attending.
Rogers is a criminology major and would like to become a police officer in the future.
She is currently concentrating on going overseas to play for a women’s professional team.
