PORTLAND, Ore. – Six players on the Montana State University Billings women's basketball team earned academic all-conference honors in an announcement made by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Wednesday. Shannon Reny led the group with a perfect 4.0 grade point average in health and human performance, while seniors Taylor Cunningham, Jeanann Lemelin, and Janessa Williams won the award for the third straight season. Sophomores Taryn Shelley and Emily St. John were first time selections.

 "I am very proud of our players who earned academic all-conference," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "It is a prestigious honor and one that takes a lot of determination, organization, and hard work. I expect our players to get their degree at MSUB so they can have more options to be successful in life after college."

A total of 48 student-athletes were named to the team, which honors excellence in the classroom while committing to the rigor of being part of a collegiate athletic program. Nominees must be of sophomore eligibility or greater, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 or greater, be a letterwinner on their team and must be in their second season at the nominating institution.
 
Reny, from Libby, Montana is a first time winner and has played in 11 games this season with 85 total minutes. Cunningham (Spokane, Washington) holds a 3.66 GPA in health and human performance – teaching option. Lemelin (Billings, Montana) is majoring in public relations with a 3.89 GPA and Williams (Clancy, Montana) plans to teach elementary education with a GPA of 3.77.
 
15 selections on this year's honorees list carry a GPA of 3.80 or higher. However, Reny is the only member of the team with a 4.00 GPA. Saint Martin's University leads the conference with seven all-Academic selections. Concordia University and Montana State University Billings followed with six apiece.