FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, March 15, 2005

CONTACT: Ted Breidenthal 816/474-7264 tbreidenthal@d3independents.org www.d3independents.org

Association of Division III Independents
Names February Student-Athlete of the Month Award Winners

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- Gabriella Keri, a 2-meter player for the California State University, East Bay water polo team, and Michael Reich, a forward from Colorado College, were named today as the recipients of the Association of Division III Independents Student-Athlete of the Month awards for February.

Keri, a senior business major from Budapest, Hungary, scored 35 goals during 10 February matches. In a 6-5 loss to Division II California State University, San Bernardino, Keri scored all five Pioneer goals. In an 8-6 win over fourth-ranked UC Santa Cruz, Keri scored four goals.

Keri leads the nation with 59 goals scored, and is a major reason why the Pioneers (11-7) are the second-ranked water polo team in Division III.

Reich, a senior biology major from Rolling Hills, CA, averaged 30.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, four steals and three assists during the month of February while leading Colorado College to a 3-2 record. Playing in his final game, Reich became the second player in the program’s history to eclipse the 2,000-point plateau when he scored 38 against Nebraska Wesleyan University. It marked the fifth time this season that he scored 30 or more points in a game. Reich also added 10 rebounds to finish the game with his seventh double-double of the year.

For the second consecutive year, Reich led the team in both points and assists. He also led the team in rebounds and steals. He set personal single-season highs with 592 points, which ranks third on the CC single-season list, and 170 rebounds.

Reich, who also received the association’s Student-Athlete of the Month Award in January, finished his career ranked second in scoring, fifth in rebounding (551) eighth in assists (219) and ninth in three-point field goals (117). He is the only player in the program's history to be ranked in the career top 10 for points, rebounds and assists. His career-best 25.7 points per game average this season ranks sixth in Division III. In CC's first game of the month, Reich scored a game-high 24 points and had seven rebounds in
an 83-67 loss at Division I University of Northern Colorado.

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 17 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in seven sports in 2004-05. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. For the first time, the Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it also will announce all-Independent teams at the conclusion of 11 sports this year.

All student-athletes from the Association’s 17 members were eligible for the award. Each school was allowed to nominate its top performing male and female student-athletes from February. The award recipients were selected after a vote of the Association’s Student-Athlete Recognition Committee.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org.