The awards continue to add on for the Chico State women's basketball team as seniors Ashleigh Barr, Makenzi Laporte and Ciarah Michalik balanced their success in the classroom and on the court as part of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team.
The CSC Academic All-District and All-America programs recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in their sport and in academics. Notable requirements to be on both academic teams must be at least a sophomore, maintain a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) and have played 90 percent of the institution's games.
It is the second straight season both Laporte and Michalik have been named to the CSC Academic All-District team while it is the first for Barr.
Laporte, who is studying Communications Studies: Organized Communication with a minor in Agricultural Business, was selected as a finalist for CSC Academic All-American and will go on the national ballot to be voted on either first-, second- or third-team. It will be announced April 16.
The lone four-year Wildcat on the 2024-25 Chico State women's basketball team, Laporte has been one of the key components to the Wildcats' 24-win season. She was selected first-team All-CCAA for the first time in her career and it was the second straight season she made all-conference, taking second team last year. Laporte started every game this season and finished fifth in the West Region in free throws, sixth in field goal percentage and eighth in both free throw percentage and total points.
Laporte also joined the program's elite 1,000-point and 500-rebound club, becoming the fifth in Chico State history to achieve both milestones in a career.
Barr, who transferred to Chico State at the start of the 2023-24 season from Santa Rosa Junior College, is on her way to graduating with a degree in Public Health. She played all 32 games off the bench and averaged 15.3 minutes. She also averaged 4.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while recording 18 blocks and 49 assists.
Michalik, who played with Barr at SRJC, joined her friend and teammate at Chico State for her senior season after playing her junior campaign at Cal State Monterey Bay. A Communications Studies major, Michalik started all 32 games and averaged 27.6 minutes. While scoring 6.5 points and grabbing 3.6 rebounds per game, she also recorded 100 assists and made 27 steals.
The Wildcats finished third in the CCAA standings and have reached the semifinal rounds of both the CCAA and NCAA West Regional tournaments.
