Four Named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Courtesy photo
Barnes, Fertig, Mellema and Ollilainen Receive Honor
GREENWOOD, Ind. (March 25, 2025) – Four Wyoming Cowgirls were named to the College Sports Communicators’ (CSC) Academic All-District Team, announced Tuesday by the organization. Tess Barnes, Allyson Fertig, Emily Mellema and Kati Ollilainen were all named to the academic team.
It marks the third time in their careers that both Fertig and Mellema have been named academic all-district. For Barnes, it is the second consecutive season she has received the honor while it is the first-career recognition for Ollilainen. In order to be selected to the team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better and be a starter of a significant contributor off the bench.
In addition to their academic achievements, these four were sensational on the court this season as well. Fertig was named the Mountain West Player of the Year after averaging 18.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this season. Fertig finishes her career as the program’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,216, second in points (1,860) and field goals (766), third in blocks with 210 and is tied for the school record with 48 career double-doubles.
Mellema, who was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 10.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Mellema finished her career ranking 15th all time with 305 career assists and ninth with 157 career steals. Barnes averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in 2024-25. Barnes, who led the Cowgirls with 54 made 3-pointers this season, shot 36-percent from beyond-the-arc. Ollilainen, meanwhile, appeared in every game and made one start this season. Ollilainen averaged 3.7 points and better than an assist per game while shooting 44-percent from the floor.
Wyoming finished the season last week in the first round of the WBIT and went 22-12 overall during the season, with an appearance in the Mountain West Championship Game. The Cowgirls’ 14 Mountain West wins this season are a program record for conference wins in a season.