From University of Rochester Athletics
A year ago, she was one of the best freshmen in the nation. Now, she's been honored as one of the best players – in any class.
University of Rochester sophomore Alexandra Leslie has been named a First Team All-American by D3hoops.com and a Third Team All-American by DIII News. She is a native of Lancaster, PA and an alumnus of Manheim Township High School.
Since the end of the 2015-16 regular season, Leslie has received eight post-season honors. She has been named to three All-America teams, two All-Region teams, one All-League team, and been named Player of the Year on both a league and regional basis.
She is the third Rochester women's basketball player to be named an All-American by D3hoops.com. Erika Smith was named a Second Team All-American in 2004 and Melissa Alwardt was an Honorable Mention All-American in 2010.
In addition to the All-America honors from D3hoops.com and DIII News, Leslie was acknowledged as an Honorable Mention All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
She was selected as the D3hoops.com East Region Player of the Year and First Team All-East Region. Leslie was named the Co-Player of the Year in the University Athletic Association along with Lisa Murphy of Carnegie Mellon University. Leslie was named First Team All-UAA. Earlier this week, she was named First Team All-ECAC Upstate New York.
One year ago, she was one of the most-honored freshmen in the nation. D3hoops.com selected her as its East Region Rookie of the Year and followed that with the national Rookie of the Year honor. She was Second Team All-East Region by D3hoops.com in 2014-15.
The UAA selected her as its Rookie of the Year in 2014-15 and First Team All-Association. That made Leslie the first Rochester player – female or male – to be named Rookie of the Year and First Team All-UAA in the same season.
When she was named as a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American earlier this month, Leslie became just the fourth women's basketball player at Rochester to earn All-America honors in consecutive seasons (Erika Smith, 2002-03, 2003-04; Julie Marriott (2007-08, 2008-09), Melissa Alwardt (2009-10, 2010-11). In all, 11 Rochester women have earned a total of 17 All-America honors in basketball (counting the D3hoops.com and DIII News accolades).
Rochester finished the 2015-16 UAA campaign in second place behind Washington (10-4 to 11-3). The Yellowjackets hosted a first-round pod in the NCAA Division III playoffs, defeating Johnson & Wales, 79-49, and Stockton University, 67-59.
Rochester advanced to the Sectional Semifinals and earned a 60-53 victory over Bowdoin College. In the quarterfinals (Elite 8), the Yellowjackets lost to fourth-ranked Amherst College, 78-50. It marked the fourth time that Rochester reached the quarterfinal round. The most recent trip came six years ago (2009-10) when the Yellowjackets advanced to the national semifinals (Final Four).
In 2015-16, the Yellowjackets finished with a record of 23-6. It is the sixth time – in 46 years – that Rochester won at least 23 games. It is also the 14th season with 20 or more victories.
For the season, Leslie led Rochester with a 15.5 ppg. scoring average. She topped the team in rebounding average (9.5 rpg.), blocked shots (36) and free throw percentage (130-148, .878). She is 19th in career scoring (831 points) and her free throw percentage this year (.878) is a single-season record. She started every game.