HAMMOND, La. – After excelling in the classroom and in competition, Southeastern Louisiana University sophomore guard Hailey Giaratano was named to the 2021-22 Southland Conference All-Academic women's basketball teams, which the league office announced Thursday.
 
Giaratano, who carries a 3.86 cumulative grade point average as a health sciences major, was named to the first team. The Ponchatoula, Louisiana native was named to the conference all-academic squad for the second straight season.
 
Last month, Giaratano was named to the All-Southland Conference team for the second consecutive year. One of three Lady Lion captains, Giaratano averaged 7.9 points per game and finished among the Southland leaders assists (3.2, 3^rd) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.76, 1^st).
 
Giaratano saved some of her best play of the season for the Southland Conference Tournament. Giaratano averaged 12.8 points per contest and earned all-tournament honors after leading the Lady Lions to their first-ever league tournament championship game appearance.
 
Giaratano was joined on the first team by 2021-22 Southland Student-Athlete of the Year Makinna Serrata of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UIW's Jaaucklyn Moore, as well as the HBU duo of Timia Jefferson and Julija Vujakovic. The second team included UIW's Destiny Terrell, Nicholls' Bryanna Washington, as well as HBU's Kennedy Wilson, Marilyn Nzoiwu and Abbey Sutherland.
 
Student-athletes must be in at least their second season at their current institution, be a key contributor on court and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The teams are voted on by school's head coaches, academic advisors and sports information directors. Voters were not allowed to vote for their school's nominees.
 
Giaratano is one of 10 letterwinners returning for Southeastern next season. The 2022-23 campaign tips off in early November.
 
2021-22 Southland Conference Women's Basketball All-Academic Teams
 
Student-Athlete of the Year: Makinna Serrata, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
 
First Team
Name – School – Cl. – GPA – Major
Hailey Giaratano – Southeastern – So. – 3.86 – Health Sciences
Makinna Serrata – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi – Sr. – 3.63 – Kinesiology
Timia Jefferson – HBU – Jr. – 3.40 – Psychology
Julija Vujakovic – HBU – Jr. – 4.0 – Psychology
Jaaucklyn Moore – UIW – So. – 3.50 – Rehabilitative Science Pre-Physical
 
Second Team
Name – School – Cl. – GPA – Major
Kennedy Wilson – HBU – Jr. – 3.62 – Family Studies
Marilyn Nzoiwu – HBU – Jr. – 4.0 – Psychology
Abbey Sutherland – HBU – Jr. – 3.97 – Psychology
Destiny Terrell – UIW – So. – 3.68 – Criminal Justice & Sociology
Bryanna Washington – Nicholls – Gr. – 3.00 – Sociology/Masters of Higher Education

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