(Peru, Neb.) – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2012-13 Division I Women's Basketball All-America Teams on Wednesday.  Among those earning Honorable Mention was Courtney Ward of Peru State College.
 
A senior forward from Bartlesville, Okla., Ward earned the honor after leading her team to a 14-17 and 9-9 Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) mark.   Ward became just the third Bobcat women's basketball player to earn national recognition.  Tamir Anderson and Tonya Volk both earned second team honors in 1994 and 2001 respectively.
In the final NAIA individual rankings, Ward finished first in offensive rebounds per game (5.806).  In addition, Ward was in the Top 50 in the following:  fifth in total rebounds (375), sixth in rebounds per game (12.097), 14^th in defensive rebounds per game (6.290), 15^th in total blocks (52), 17^th in blocks per game (1.677), 23^rd in field goal percentage (0.495), 48^th in total scoring (471), and 50^th in points per game (15.194).
 
In Bobcat career statistics, Ward led the way by setting one single-season record, three career records, and now ranks in the top ten in three other career categories.  Ward grabbed 375 boards this season to set the new single season rebounding record that was 357 set by Lora White in the 1991-92 season.   She also now ranks first in career rebounds (1243), first in blocked shots (180), first in games played (123), third in scoring (1515), fifth in free throws attempted (394), and fifth in free throws made (267).
 
Ward earned HAAC First Team this season and was a Second Team selection as a junior.  In addition, Ward is a two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.