CLARION’S CIGICH NAMED WBCA/KODAK ALL-AMERICA FINALIST

            Clarion University junior forward Heather Cigich (Johnstown/Conemaugh Twp.) has been named a WBCA/Kodak 2004 NCAA Division II women’s basketball All-America finalist.

            The All-America team will be announced at the Division II Banquet of Champions March 23 in St. Joseph, Mo.

            “We are very proud of Heather and very happy for her,” Clarion head coach Gie Parsons said. “She has worked very hard to get to this point and has been an important piece of the puzzle for us the last three seasons.”

Cigich, a three-year starter, is in the midst of an outstanding career at Clarion.

This season she averaged 20.0 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 3.1 spg, 2.5 apg and 1.1 bpg while shooting 51.9 percent (218-420) from the field and 74.8 percent (101-135) from the free-throw line. She ranks first in the PSAC in both scoring and rebounding, second in steals, seventh in shooting percentage and 14^th in free-throw percentage. She also ranks second in the nation in rebounding, 13^th in scoring and 37^th in steals. She had 31 double-doubles, three 30-point games, 13 20-point games, one 20-rebound game and seven 15-rebound games. She scored a season-high 31 points twice (Edinboro and West Liberty) while collecting a career-best 21 rebounds vs. IUP. Her 541 points this season ranked 4^th in a single-season in school history, her 328 rebounds ranked third and her 84 steals ranked fourth. Cigich rose her level of play in PSAC-West action averaging 20.8 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 3.2 spg, 2.4 apg and 1.9 bpg.

In her career Cigich ranks fifth in school history in scoring (1,355 points), third in rebounding (850), third in blocked shots (63) and seventh in steals (187). Her 16.8 ppg average currently is the best scoring average in a career in school history, and she is averaging a career double-double with 16.9 ppg and 10.6 rpg.

Cigich helped Clarion to a 15-12 overall record and a 7-5 PSAC-West mark, good for a tie for second place with Shippensburg. The Golden Eagles returned to the PSAC Playoffs after a year off before losing to Shippensburg in the opening round.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Cigich is also a finalist for the COSIDA/Daktronics All-America team having been named first-team East Region early this week … She was also selected first team PSAC-West for the second straight year after being on the second team her freshman season.