Welch Earns Academic All-District Nod

Jan. 30, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina junior forward Aleighsa Welch (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek HS) earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 First Team, the organization announced today. She is one of six selections now eligible for Academic All-America honors, recognizing the combination of excellence on the court and in the classroom.

Welch leads the SEC and ranks seventh in the nation with a .608 field goal percentage and is South Carolina’s second leading scorer and rebounder. Her 13.7 points per game is 15th best in the SEC, and she is ninth in the league in rebounding at 7.8 per contest. Welch is already fifth in school history with 302 career offensive rebounds, becoming just the third Gamecock to record at least 100 in multiple seasons. This season, she has led the team in scoring four times, been the top rebounder nine times and posted six double-doubles.

Earlier this season Welch, who earned All-SEC Second-Team honors last season, was named to the Naismith Trophy Early Season Watch List and captured a Preseason All-SEC First Team nod from the league’s coaches. With a minimum of 10 games remaining this season, she needs just 80 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau for her career.

No. 7/8 South Carolina (18-2, 6-1 SEC) is in action tonight against Ole Miss. Tipoff at Colonial Life Arena is set for 7 p.m. The Gamecocks continue their home weekend on Sun., Feb. 2, against Missouri in a 3 p.m. tipoff.

2013-14 CoSIDA Academic All-District 4

Sarah Hansen, Florida Gulf Coast, Sr.
Christy Robinson, Samford, Sr.
Jerica Coley, Florida International, Sr.
Lily Svete, Florida, Sr.
Aleighsa Welch, South Carolina, Jr.
Lauren Kirby, Wofford, Jr.