OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (Oct. 30, 2013) – Saint Francis U senior forward Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) has been recognized as one of 30 candidates for the 2013-14 women's basketball Senior CLASS Award. Student-athletes eligible for the award must be an NCAA Division I senior while excelling in four areas – community, classroom, character and competition.

Williams led the Red Flash in scoring, rebounding, and steals in 2012-13, and was fourth in the nation in double-doubles with 24. Off the court, Williams is pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy and last year she was named a Capital One Academic All-America candidate.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

Of the 60 total candidates on the men's and women's sides, 20 have grade point averages of 3.5 or higher. There are eight CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-Americans® and seven returning All-Americans. Twenty-four of the 32 NCAA Division I basketball-playing conferences are represented as well.

The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Men's Final Four® and NCAA Women's Final Four®.

Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplify excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. ?

For more information on all the candidates, visit www.seniorCLASSaward.com.

Women's Basketball Candidates
Gennifer Brandon, California
Amanda Hyde, IPFW
Heather Butler, Tennessee-Martin
Maggie Lucas, Penn State
Alyssa Charlston, Idaho
Dequesha McClanahan, Winthrop
Hallie Christofferson, Iowa State
Sarah Nelson, Creighton
Jerica Coley, Florida International
Eilise O'Connor, Missouri-Kansas City
Allyson DiMagno, Cornell
Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Alexis Dobbs, American
Haley Peters, Duke
Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
Theresa Plaisance, LSU
Jamierra Faulkner, Southern Mississippi
Michelle Plouffe, Utah
Ataira Franklin, Virginia
Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Chelsea Gray, Duke
Alex Smith, Holy Cross
Sarah Hansen, Florida Gulf Coast
Kacie Sowell, Seattle
Cassie Harberts, Southern California
DeNesha Stallworth, Kentucky
Jordan Hooper, Nebraska
Rachel Tecca, Akron
Natasha Howard, Florida State
Alli Wiliams, Saint Francis