SALEM, Va. - The finalists for the prestigious Jostens Trophy were announced today by members of the Rotary Club of Salem, Va. and Puget Sound senior guard Claire Ely (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) has been named one of 12 finalists for the women's award.

Ely, who last week was named Northwest Conference Player of the Year, led the Northwest Conference in scoring (20.5 ppg), assists (4.56 apg), steals (2.76 spg), assist/turnover ratio (1.93) and minutes played (37.36).  In addition to her NWC awards, Ely was also named Academic All-America by ESPN The Magazine after carrying a 3.81 grade-point average as an exercise science major.

Joining Ely on the list of women's finalists are Molly Ariail of Randolph-Macon, Stephanie Boardman of Wittenberg, Colleen Clarke of Cazenovia, Chelsea Edwards of Texas-Dallas, Julia Hirssig of Wisconsin-Stout, Jessica Laing of SUNY Cortland, Lyndsie Long of Elmhurst, Margo Muhlbauer of Buena Vista, Christina Solari of Illinois Wesleyan, Kyn Wenz of College of Wooster and Mary Wilkowski of Hamline.  

The winners will be notified by March 10, with the awards presentation scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at the Salem Civic Center in conjunction with the Men's Division III Championship, being hosted in Salem, Va. on March 19-20.

The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto of “Service above Self” by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded Division III student-athlete. This year’s class marks the 13th year the award has been presented.

Additional information on the award can be found at: http://www.odaconline.com/jostens/jostens.htm