College women’s basketball: Oparah recognized

UC Irvine senior Cindy Oparah was selected to the Verizon Academic

All-District VIII women’s basketball first-team as voted on by the

College Sports Information Directors of America.

She is one of five student-athletes that will be forwarded to the

national ballot. Winners will be announced March 8.

Oparah, a biological sciences major who plans to pursue a career in

medicine, leads the Big West in scoring (15.7) and rebounding (9.6). She

is ranked 25th nationally for rebounds.

To be eligible for the academic award, student-athletes must have a

3.20 cumulative grade point average and must be a starter or important

reserve in at least the second year of eligibility at a school.