Courtesy of Bob Heller, USP SID

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia women's basketball players Melissa RotzandErin Chesnavich were named to the 2010 ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District 2 women's basketball team as announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Rotz (Central Dauphin High School/Harrisburg, Pa.), a junior, was chosen as a second team selection while Chesnavich (Bishop O'Reilly High School/Pittston, Pa.) , a senior was named as a third team selection in balloting done by District 2 sports information directors. Rotz and Chesnavich both earned third team honors in 2009.

The District 2 College Division consists of all NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia and District of Columbia. To be nominated for the Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore athletically with a minimum 3.30 grade point average and a starter or significant reserve on her team.

Rotz, a pharmacy major in her second professional year (fourth overall) in the university's Doctor of Pharmacy program, currently sports a 3.99 grade point average. Melissa has earned Dean's List honors in each of her seven semesters at the institution.  In addition to earning third team honors the previous year, Rotz was also named to the time Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All Area Women's Basketball Team and the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference All-Academic Team.  She was also a 2008 Jules Ann Bravyak Keegan scholarship winner as an outstanding student entering their first professional year of the institution's Doctor of Pharmacy program.

A junior athletically, having red-shirted her first year, Rotz has started all 17 games for the Devils, leads the team in assists with 55 and ranks 9^th in the CACC, averaging 3.23 assists/game. Melissa is currently third on the team in three-point field goals made and steals. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native recorded a career high 16 points against NyackCollege in 2008-09.

Chesnavich, a double major (biology and physician assistant), currently has a 3.46 overall grade point average and has earned Dean's List honors the last four semesters.  The senior forward is a two-time First Team All-CACC honoree as well as a two-time Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All Area Women's Basketball Team selection.  

This season, Chesnavich has earned Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) and Philadelphia Area Small College Player of the Week honors and has been named to the CACC honor roll three times. Currently the Devils' leading scorer, shooter and rebounder, Chesnavich is currently ranked in the top six in the CACC in four different statistical categories, including a league leading 62.0% shooting percentage. This mark also ranks her fifth nationally amongst all NCAA Division II players in field goal percentage. The Pittston, Pennsylvania native ranks fourth on the Devils all-time scoring list with 1,342 points and sixth in rebounds with 772.

Rotz and Chesnavich were amongst three women's basketball players from the CACC selected to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District 2 women's basketball team, joining first team honoree Janelle Biamonte of FelicianCollege.