From University of Rochester Athletics
University of Rochester freshman Al Leslie has been selected as an All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association for the 2014-15 season. She is a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and an alumnus of Manheim Township High School.
The WBCA selected 10 players as First Team All-Americans and 30 players as Honorable Mention All-Americans. Leslie is the 11th Rochester player to earn All-America basketball honors since the selection of Jody Lavin in 1981-82.
Announcement of the team was made during an awards banquet in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Thursday evening, site of the women's Division III Final Four (hosted by Calvin College).
Leslie is the only freshman on the 2014-15 WBCA All-America Team. She is the first Rochester women's basketball player to earn All-America honors as a freshman. Since the 2014-15 season ended on February 28, Leslie has accumulated six post-season honors:
- First Team All-University Athletic Association (UAA)
- UAA Rookie of the Year
- Second Team All-East Region by D3hoops.com
- East Region Rookie of the Year by D3hoops.com
- First Team All-Region II by the Women's Basketball Coaches Assn. (WBCA)
- Honorable Mention All-America by the WBCA
She was the only freshman named to the 15-person All-East Region Team by D3hoops.com(five First Team, five Second Team, five Third Team).
Leslie's UAA honors are somewhat unique – she was named the Rookie of the Year and First Team All-UAA. That voting process was conducted among the eight head coaches in the UAA. Coaches cannot vote for their own players. She is the first Rochester freshman – female or male – to earn Rookie of the Year honors and First Team All-UAA accolades in the same season. The UAA just concluded its 28th season as a college conference.
The UAA had three players named to the WBCA All-America Team: Melissa Gilkey of Washington University (First Team), Megan Dawe of New York University (Honorable Mention), and Leslie. Rochester split its UAA games with Washington and NYU with the home team winning each time.
Leslie led Rochester in scoring (15.2 ppg.) and rebounding (9.2 rpg.). She shot 50.4% from the floor (128-254), 50% outside the arc (2-4), and 83.1% from the foul line (123-148). She added 43 assists (second overall), 14 blocked shots (second), and made 17 steals (tied for second). She started every game and led the team in minutes played (679, 27.2 mpg.).
Her 123 free throws made are the fourth highest total in a season. The 148 attempts are the ninth highest. The percentage of 83.1% is ninth highest in a season.
During the season, she recorded 10 double-doubles (Rochester was 7-3 in those games). She scored 20 or more points five times with a career high of 28 points twice – on December 4 against St. John Fisher College in the semifinals of the Wendy's Classic, then on February 6 in a 72-63 victory over eighth-ranked NYU. She had five double-doubles in Rochester's last seven UAA games. During that time, Rochester defeated #8 NYU on February 6 (Leslie had 28 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists), defeated #7 Washington, 76-75 on February 15 (Leslie had 21 points and 14 rebounds), lost in overtime to Case Western Reserve, 79-72 (Leslie had 25 points and 14 rebounds), and won its season finale at Emory (74-64, she had 19 points and 11 rebounds).
Leslie was selected as the UAA's Women's Player of the Week twice (week ending February 8 and week ending February 28). She was named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week for the week ending February 8.
Rochester's All-Americans in Women's Basketball
Jody Lavin (1981-82)
Terri Eddy (1986-87)
Erika Smith (2002-03, 2003-04)
Kelly Wescott (2003-04)
Emily Bango (2006-07)
Danielle Muller (2006-07)
Julie Marriott (2007-08, 2008-09)
Melissa Alwardt (2009-10, 2010-11)
Jodie Luther (2011-12)
Ally Zywicki (2012-13)
Al Leslie (2014-15)