Conference

RICHARDSON, Texas –– University of Texas at Dallas men’s basketball player Ernest Lowery and Hardin-Simmons University women’s basketball player Haylee Allen have earned the title of Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in their respective American Southwest Conference winter sport, the ASC office announced on Tuesday (March 24).

Overall, 24 student-athletes from ASC men’s and women’s basketball teams were named to the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team.

The honor, in its second academic year, recognizes student-athletes that achieve a higher level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. From that list – limited to one nominee per school in each ASC championship sport – the Sports Information Directors from the conference’s 15 member institutions vote on a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from each sport.

Lowery (Spring, TX / Klein Collins HS), who carries a 3.826 GPA, has been among UTD’s team leaders the last two seasons, helping lead the Comets to an ASC title and the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament this season. He has twice been voted to the ASC All-East Division and All-Defensive teams. Attending UTD on an Academic Excellence Scholarship, Lowery earned his undergraduate degree in three years and is currently enrolled in the UTD professional accounting graduate program. He is a three-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection and has twice been elected to the Academic All-American All-District team, including first-team honors this year. Lowery is active in community service and youth programs with his fraternity as well as UTD’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Allen (Buffalo Gap, TX / Jim Ned HS), who is a junior and carries a perfect 4.0 GPA as an Education major, helped lead the Cowgirls to a 22-6 season as an honorable mention all-ASC selection. Allen was among the team leaders in scoring, assists and steals and helped lead the Cowgirls to the ASC tournament championship game. She was a second-team ESPN The Magazine/COSIDA Academic All-American and is also a three-time member of the President’s Honor Roll at HSU.

Both honorees were named to the 2008-09 ASC Academic All-Conference Team.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL