Senior Jaycie Christopher of the University of Southern Maine women’s basketball team has been named a First Team College Sports Communicators Division III Academic All-American, recognizing her combined excellence in the classroom and on the court. The honor was announced on April 15, following a standout season that helped lead the Huskies to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament run.
Christopher, a Leadership and Organizational Studies major from Skowhegan, becomes the 21st student-athlete in University history to earn Academic All-American honors. She is among a select group of Huskies to be named to the first team and the first since Sophia Slovenski ’23 in 2023. Christopher is also just the second women’s basketball player in program history to receive the distinction, joining Ashley Marble ’07.
The Academic All-American honor, awarded by College Sports Communicators, recognizes student-athletes who demonstrate high achievement both academically and athletically. Christopher’s selection follows a season in which she earned multiple national and regional honors while helping Southern Maine secure the 2026 Little East Conference regular season and tournament championships, the program’s first since 2013.
“Jaycie embodies the role of student-athlete with excellence both on and off the court,” said head coach David Chadbourne. “Each of Jaycie’s accomplishments and awards this season are due to her outstanding work ethic and character, commitment to herself as an individual and as a team player, and for possessing a desire to succeed in all areas. As a head coach, Jaycie’s an outstanding role model and example of what our staff wants from each and every one of student-athletes, making academics a priority while achieving to your full potential athletically.”
Christopher led the team with 18.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, finishing among the national leaders in NCAA Division III. She recorded 12 double-doubles and scored in double figures in all but one game, contributing to a 27-3 overall record and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Earlier this season, Christopher was named a D3hoops.com All-American, Region 2 Player of the Year, and Little East Conference Player of the Year, among other honors. She was also selected to the CSC Academic All-District team before advancing to the national ballot.