May 30, 2007

Columbia, Mo. -Missouri seniors Leanne Bowers (Arnold, Mo.) and Kathy Masterson (St. Louis, Mo.) were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team as announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Masterson received second team honors, while Bowers was tabbed to the University Division's third team. The Academic All-America honor is a first for both Bowers and Masterson who received their first Academic All-District VII honors on May 10.

Bowers and Masterson become Missouri's first softball Academic All-Americans since Ingrid Werner in 2003.

Masterson, a civil engineering major, recorded a 4.0 grade-point average for the seventh time of her college career and is one of five university division honorees with a perfect mark. Missouri's starting catcher all four years of her career, Masterson moved to third in the Tiger career putouts record book with 1,018 to her name. This season alone, Masterson made 57 starts for the Tigers and owned a .272 average with three home runs, four triples and eight doubles.

Missouri's second honoree, Bowers, received recognition for her 3.86 GPA in psychology. With a .302 average and 64 starts on the campaign, Bowers has etched her name into several categories of the Missouri softball record book, including a first place standing with 84 career walks.