Kemp And Waltz Named Academic All-Big 12

March 2, 2005

DALLAS, Texas — University of Kansas senior Blair Waltz and junior Crystal Kemp were named to the 2005 Women’s Basketball Academic All-Big 12 team first team, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Waltz, a four-year senior from Leawood, Kan., has played in 21 games this season with three starting assignments. Her career totals include over 500 points, 225 rebounds and 140 assists. She was also named to the cademic All-Big 12 first team as a sophomore and to the second team as a junior. Waltz is majoring in French and Economics.

Kemp, a two-time first-team honoree, has led the Jayhawks in scoring and rebounding the entire season and averages 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. She reached 1,000 career points this season and is just the 11th KU player in history to accumulate over 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds. She is among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, steals and field goal percentage. A native of Topeka, Kan., Kemp is majoring in Speech Language and Hearing.

Waltz and Kemp were among 21 repeat honorees awarded by the Big 12. Waltz was one of 15 players to be selected to the academic all-conference team for the third time.

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and media relations offices, the women’s basketball academic all-league squad consisted of 37 first team members combined with nine on the second team. First team members include those who have maintained a 3.20 or better grade point average, and the second team are those who have 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 60 percent of her 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.