EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) has been named the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American of the Year in the Women's At-Large University Division, announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Bowen also earned first-team Academic All-America honors for the second-straight year, and she becomes the second Wildcat lacrosse player to capture the honor, joining Courtney Koester, who took home the award in 2005.

Bowen, a human development and psychological services major, was a four-year starter for Northwestern, helping lead the Wildcats to an 85-3 overall record and a national championship in each of her years in Evanston. She finishes her career ranked third all-time in both points (299) and goals (219) and fifth in assists (80) in the Wildcat record books, including scoring a program-best 81 goals in 2008.

A two-time NCAA Championship MVP, Bowen was fourth on the team in goals (55) and points (66) in 2009, despite missing eight games due to an torn ACL. She returned in time to start the final three NCAA tournament games, highlighted by a game-high five goals against North Carolina in the championship game. Bowen tallied at least one goal in 51 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history.

Bowen is a two-time IWLCA All-American and was an All-American Lacrosse Conference first-team selection in both 2007 and 2008. A Tewaaraton Trophy nominee, she was named as an alternate on the U.S. Lacrosse National Team, which will represent the United States at the FIL World Cup in Prague later this month.

Bowen, who is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, earned first-team Academic All-America honors for the second-consecutive year, becoming the first lacrosse player in Northwestern history to accomplish the feat. She is one of four repeat selections on the first-team, joining golfers Amanda Blumenherst of Duke and Azahara Muñoz of Arizona State and Navy swimmer Kelly Zahalka. Denison swimmer Kristen Hohl was named the College Division Academic All-American of the Year.

The Women's At-Large program includes the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing, tennis and water polo. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution, and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

2009-06-11