Jan. 20, 2006

St. Louis, Mo. -

Senior Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) was name Missouri Valley Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week for the period Jan. 9-15, league officials announced Friday.

The Valley's Scholar-Athlete program, which is sponsored by Prairie Farms, Roberts and Hiland Dairies, honors conference student-athletes for their athletic performance for a one-week period and academic success in the classroom. The program began during the 1999-00 academic year.

"We are grateful for our continued corporate partnership with Prairie Farms' family of dairies," said Commissioner Elgin, who is in his 18th year with The Valley. "Recognizing our student-athletes like Cassie (Hager) for her athletic performance and her academic success is a compliment to the total person."

A center for the UNI women's basketball team, Hager registered 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, as the Panthers defeated Illinois State (75-69 on Jan. 12) and fell to Indiana State (74-62 on Jan. 14). In the two games, she went 11-for-11 from the free throw line, extending her consecutive made streak to 24.

Hager, who has a 3.39 cumulative grade-point average in elementary and early childhood education, posted a career-high 27 points to lead UNI against the Redbirds, going 10-for-12 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free throw line, and collected a game-high nine rebounds and four blocked shots.

To qualify for Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.