Nov. 8, 2004

Columbia, Mo. - Three Missouri softball players were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Academic All-America team. Junior infielder Joanne Loethen, alongside sophomores Leanne Bowers (outfield) and Kathy Masterson (catcher), were recognized for their strength in the classroom. All together, the Missouri softball team combined for a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average for the 2003-04 school year, the highest in recent team history.

"Our success in the classroom is of equal importance to our success on the field," Head Coach Ty Singleton said. "We want our players to graduate on time with a great jump on their life after athletics."

One of three Tiger softball players to earn Academic All-Big 12 honors in the spring, Loethen, is a native of St. Thomas, Mo., and holds a 3.53 grade-point average in nutrition and fitness. Bowers, of Arnold, Mo., carries a 3.77 in her double major of psychology and business. Recording the highest grade-point average of her 17 teammates, Masterson was the lone softball player to record a 4.00 grade-point average. Masterson is majoring in engineering and is from St. Louis.

The 3.0 team grade-point average marked only the second time in 10 years that the Tiger softball team recorded above a 3.00. Eight members of the squad held above a 3.00 grade-point average for the Winter 2004 semester, with five individuals named to the Dean's list.