SALEM, Va. (Blugolds.com) – UW-Eau Claire women's basketball player Sarah Bingea (Sr.-Delano, Minn.) has been named a finalist for the 2013 Jostens Trophy, which is awarded annually to an outstanding Division III basketball player who excels on the floor, in the classroom and in the community.
Bingea led the Blugolds in scoring this season with an average of 13.2 points per game (304 points in 23 games), a mark that ranked sixth best in the WIAC. On Feb. 9, Bingea reached 1,000 career points, just the 16th Blugold in school history to reach the mark. She also averaged 7.5 rebounds per game, which led the team and was third best in the conference. Bingea ended her career 14th on the Blugolds' all-time scoring list with 1,053 points and set school records in minutes (3,473) and average minutes per game (33.4).
Bingea received numerous honors this season. She was selected to the Capital One Academic All-America Third Team and was named a WIAC Scholar-Athlete. She was also picked to the All-WIAC First Team.
The last time a Blugold was named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy was in 2011 when Hannah Mesick was a senior.
The Salem Rotary Club Jostens Trophy Committee employs a numerical rating to narrow the list of finalists so that the decision can be made on the most objective basis possible.
Voters' ballots are due by March 13 with the winning schools expected to be notified by March 15. The awards presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 at the Salem Civic Center in conjunction with the Men's Division III quarterfinals and semifinals being hosted in Salem, Va., on March 22-23.
The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men's and women's Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded Division III student-athlete. This year's class marks the 16th year the award has been presented.
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