PORTLAND, Ore. – Whether on the basketball court or in the classroom, Natalie Hoff is making the most of her fifth year at Seattle Pacific.
 
One of the team's steadiest performers for scoring and rebounding, Hoff also is one of the Falcons' steadiest students. The visual communication major has earned a place on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball All-Academic team for the fourth year in a row.

 

She is one of eight Falcons on the squad, and one of four players from around the conference to collect her fourth All-Academic award. Hoff has a 3.91 grade-point average.

"What I love about our group is we want to excel not only on the court, but in the classroom as well," head coach Mike Simonson said. "We have a group of young women who are extremely intelligent and have a great work ethic, and this is a testament to show that work ethic on and off the court."
 
Normally, student-athletes can earn as many as three GNAC All-Academic honors if they make the team as a sophomore, junior, and senior. (Freshmen are not eligible.)
 
However, even though the 2020-21 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the GNAC continued with its All-Academic awards to recognize those who would have earned a place on the team had the season been played. And, student-athletes whose seasons were canceled were granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA; hence the opportunity to earn a fourth All-Academic award.
 
Hoff was able to take advantage of that opportunity. She is averaging 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds (second on the team in both categories), leads the way in blocked shots with 17, and is the Falcons' top free throw shooter at 81.8 percent (54 of 66).

"Four years on the All-Academic team is something very few people have accomplished in the conference. I'm very proud of her. She is just so consistent in the way she excels," Simonson said. "She has a very demanding major that demands a lot of hard work and effort. For her to be a great player and a great student shows the level of commitment she has to excel."
 
 

Making the team for the second time are redshirt sophomores Hunter Beirne, Anna Eddy, and Hailey Marlow. Beirne has a 3.90 GPA as a global development studies major and has become SPU's primary point guard with averages of 7.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Her assist average is tied for No. 4 I the GNAC.
 
Eddy is an exercise science major with a 3.36 GPA. She averages 9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and leads the Falcons in makes from 3-point range with 39. Eddy has a pair of double-digit rebound games, the second of which factored into her first collegiate double-double with 10 boards and 12 points against Stanislaus State on Dec. 17.
 
Marlow sports a 3.91 GPA as a business administration major. She has averages of 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds, and is one of SPU's toughest defensive players.

 

Earning their first All-Academic awards are true sophomores Schuyler Berry, Jalena Carlisle, Maya Hoff, and Lolo Weatherspoon. Berry is a global development studies major and sports the team's highest GPA at 3.94. Carlisle has a 3.64 in business administration, Hoff has a 3.62 in business administration, and Weatherspoon has a 3.31, but has not declared a major.
 
To qualify for All-Academic status, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher, be at least a sophomore and in their second year at their school, and be on the roster for the full season.
 

2022-23 GNAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Presented by Barnes & Noble College

SEATTLE PACIFIC
Name	Academic Major	Year	GPA	Hometown
* Hunter Beirne	Global Development Studies	So.	3.90	Mukilteo, Wash.
Schuyler Berry	Global Development Studies	So.	3.94	Poartland, Ore.
Jalena Carlisle	Business Administration	So.	3.64	Camas, Wash.
* Anna Eddy	Exercise Science	So.	3.36	Portland, Ore.
Maya Hoff	Business Administration	So.	3.62	Beaverton, Ore.
*+# Natalie Hoff	Visual Communication	Sr.	3.91	Beaverton, Ore.
* Hailey Marlow	Business Administration	So.	3.91	Spokane, Wash.
Lolo Weatherspoon	Undeclared	So.	3.31	Camas, Wash.

 * - 2021-22 All-Academic Selection 
+ - 2020-21 All-Academic Selection    
# - 2019-20 All Academic Selection