March 23, 2004
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame junior forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind./Washington HS) has been chosen as an Associated Press honorable mention All-American, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon. Batteast is the sixth Irish player ever to be recognized by the AP, and the first since Alicia Ratay earned her second honorable mention All-America citation in 2002. It’s the latest in a series of postseason honors for Batteast, who is a finalist for both the Naismith Award and the Kodak/WBCA All-America Team, in addition to garnering first-team all-BIG EAST Conference laurels.
Batteast is averaging 15.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game with 11 double-doubles and eight 20-point games this season. The talented Irish wing has been at her best against top competition this year, averaging 15.7 points and 8.7 rebounds with four double-doubles and three near double-doubles against 10 ranked opponents. Batteast’s best effort against a Top 25 team came on Jan. 13 when she piled up 23 points and 11 rebounds to help Notre Dame knock off No. 4 Connecticut, 66-51 at the Joyce Center.
Batteast currently ranks among the Top 10 in the BIG EAST in scoring (seventh), rebounding (fourth), field goal percentage (ninth – .444), blocked shots (sixth – 1.23 bpg.) and double-doubles (second). She also was named to the WBCA Classic All-Tournament Team on Nov. 15 after averaging 20.0 points and 7.5 rebounds with a .529 field goal percentage against nationally-ranked Auburn and Colorado.
For her career, Batteast ranks 12th in school history in scoring (1,266 points), fifth in scoring average (14.4 ppg.), ninth in rebounding (723) and second in rebounding average (8.2 rpg.). She also owns an active streak of 62 consecutive games started, dating back to the beginning of last year, and she has started 84 of a possible 88 games in her college career.
Batteast and her Irish teammates will return to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ET) when they play host to Middle Tennessee State in the second round of the NCAA Championship at the Joyce Center.
— ND —