FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Courtesy of JWU Athletics Communications
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – This season Johnson & Wales University women's basketball student-athlete Raquel Pederzani made history on the court. On Monday, she made history in the classroom. The senior was recognized with the program's first College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America award.
The Coventry, RI, native was selected to the Third-Team Academic All-American team. She joins Emily Gorecki (Softball – 2017), Stephen Jarrell (At-Large – 2017) and Kate Walker (Women's Volleyball – 2018) as Johnson & Wales' only Academic All-Americans.
Majoring in criminal justice, Pederzani carries a 3.95 cumulative grade point average. She was the only player in the GNAC as well as the New England region on any of the three teams.
Pederzani finished her career as the Wildcats' all-time leader in points, assists, steals, three-pointers and free throw percentage. She broke the school-record with 41 points against Albertus Magnus as part of her eight 20-point games.
She ended the season sixth in the GNAC at 17.6 points per game, breaking the JWU single-season scoring average record. She rates 42nd in the NCAA, second in the league, with 116 assists while ranking 10th in the NCAA in minutes played.
In addition to her academic and basketball achievements, Pederzani is a finalist for the Jostens Award, which takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess, and community service. Given out by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., the winner will be announced on March 15 at the NCAA Division III men's championship.