LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky women?s basketball player Chelsea Chowning has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.

Chowning, a native of Berea, Ky., boasts a 4.00 grade point average in Kentucky?s prestigious College of Pharmacy. She is on track to graduate in 2010 with a doctorate in pharmacy. She also was named to the Dean?s List and UK?s Athletics Director Honor during the fall semester for her perfect GPA.

As a first team selection, Chowning is now eligible for Academic All-America voting with results being announced later in the season. The Academic All-District team was voted on by sports information directors in UK?s District 4.

On the court, the senior has seen action in 21 games with four starts and averages 4.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game. More important that her stats, Chowning has been dubbed the ?heart beat of this team? by Coach Matthew Mitchell for her invaluable leadership on and off the court.

The Wildcats (11-11, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) return to Rupp Arena Thursday, Feb. 7 to take on Ole Miss at 7 p.m. EST. The game will be televised live on FSN South as the SEC Game of the Week and also broadcast live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio) with Neil Price.

Single-game general admission tickets are available for purchase $5 adults/$2 senior citizens and children 6-18. Ages five and under are admitted free. UK students, faculty and staff also are admitted free with valid identification based on availability. For ticket information, log on to ukathletics.com or call the UK ticket office at 859-257-1818 or 1-800-928-CATS (2287).