Six members of New York University's basketball teams were named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA), it was announced earlier today.

Women's basketball's Natalie Bruns, Belle Pellecchia, Megan Bauman and Erica Miller were honored while Michael Savarino and Zay Freeney from the men were also recognized.

The 2023-24 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Basketball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher and participate in the majority of their team's games to be eligible.

These four women's basketball student-athletes add Academic All-District distinction to a highly-decorated 2023-24 in which the Violets won the NCAA Division III National Championship.

Bruns, a Business & Technology Management major in NYU's Tandon School of Engineering, shined for NYU along the way to the national title. She adds Academic All-District to her long list of accolades, including National Player of the Year and All-America from both the WBCA and D3hoops.com, UAA Player of the Year and First Team All-UAA, and NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, among others.

Pellecchia, a Journalism/Environmental Studies major in NYU's College of Arts and Science, had an outstanding season as well, becoming the first player to ever win three straight UAA Defensive Player of the Year awards and receiving First Team All-UAA, Region 4 First Team, D3hoops.com All-America and WBCA Honorable Mention All-America.

Bauman, a Sports Business major in NYU's School of Professional Studies, was also a First Team All-UAA and Region 4 First Team selection while Miller, a Sports Management major also in NYU's School of Professional Studies, adds Academic All-District to her UAA All-Academic honors and was a consistent starter for Head Coach Meg Barber's title-winning squad.

Freeney, another Sports Management Major, was a key starter on the Violets' UAA title-winning team this past season. He was a Second Team All-UAA honoree and named UAA All-Academic in addition to his Academic All-District recognition.

Savarino, a Sports Business major, also landed on the All-UAA Second Team and All-Academic list and was a two-time UAA Athlete of the Week as another important starter for Head Coach Dave Klatsky.

Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced April 16 (women) and April 17 (men).