Ericka Simpson Makes History with Selection to Academic All-District Team

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Baker University point guard Ericka Simpson made history this week, as she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District College Division Women's Basketball Team, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

With the distinction she became the first player in Baker women’s basketball history to be named to the list.

The Academic All-District teams are divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. This is the fifth year of the expanded Academic All-America program as CoSIDA moved from recognizing a University Division (NCAA Div. I) and College Division (all non-Div. I) and has doubled the number of athletes honored.  

The expanded teams include NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III participants, while the College Division Academic All-America Team combines NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools. 

Simpson holds the highest grade point average among the District 3 College Division selections, boasting a 3.95 with a major in Exercise Science. She is also the only player from the Heart of America Athletic Conference on the list.

The Spring Hill, Kansas product has started all 24 games for the Wildcats this season, averaging a team-best 12.3 points per game to go along with 2.7 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

She is shooting 43.1 percent (28 for 65) from three-point range and boasts a season-best of 21 points against Missouri Valley on December 5.

First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.

There have only been four athletes in the history of Baker Athletics to be named an Academic All-American, those include Josh Rydberg (Men’s Soccer), Jordan Dolbin (Women’s Soccer), Aaron Caldwell (Men’s Track & Field) and Katie Thurbon (Women’s Track & Field).