March 7, 2003

Duquesne University's Beth Friday (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) has been named to the 2003 Verizon Women's Basketball Academic All-American Third Team. She becomes the sixth Duquesne student-athlete to be named to a national academic team this year.

Friday, a senior who boasts a 3.70 grade point average in accounting, was named to the Verizon District II first team this year and to the second team last year. The 6-1 forward leads the Dukes and is second in the Atlantic 10 with 10.5 rebounds per game and adds 14.3 points per game, which is second on the team. She is ranked 16th nationally in rebounds per game.

This past January, Friday became the first Duquesne women's basketball player and just the fourth in the Atlantic 10 to record 1,000 career rebounds and points. She has 1,410 points and 1,156 rebounds to date. Friday was named a first team All-Atlantic 10 selection this year and last and a second team honoree in 2001. In addition, she was chosen as leagues' Academic Student-Athlete of the Year. Friday was also named to the 2001 A-10 Academic All-Conference squad and appeared in the Feb. 10 issue of Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd."

To be eligible for the Verizon award, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore at their institution, be a starter or important reserve and have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). Friday is the 12th Duquesne University student-athlete to be named the to the District II list this season. Duquesne has had at least one student-athlete named to each of the six Verizon teams to date - men's & women's soccer, women's volleyball, football and men's & women's basketball.