AMHERST, N.Y. --
Sophie Auer (Lewiston, N.Y.),
Danielle DiCintio (Somers, N.Y.) and
Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) of the Daemen University women's basketball team have earned 2025 Academic All District honors from the College Sports Communicators (CSC), recognizing their combined achievements on the court and in the classroom. To be eligible for CSC Acadmic All-District honors, student-athletes must be a starter or of important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average, and they must have reached sophomore athletic eligibility. Select Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-American honorees will be announced on April 16, 2025.
Sophie Auer, So, Guard, Lewiston, N.Y. -- A starter in all 30 games for the Wildcats this season, Auer made an impact in her sophomore campaign and led Daemen with 34.4 minutes per game while finishing fifth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.5 points along with 4.4 rebounds per game. The sophomore guard shot a team-high 45% from the field, going 122-of-271 while adding 18 triples on the year. Auer doled out 88 assists -- good for second on the team -- and added 31 total steals and three blocks this season. Auer totaled a season-high 19 points twice this season (at Holy Family on Dec. 1 and in the regular season finale against Roberts Wesleyan on March 1). A one-time East Coast Conference Player of the Week awardee, Auer earned ECC All-Tournament Team recognition after totaling 25 points while shooting 10-of-17 from the field in Daemen's pair of ECC tournament victories. Earning a Bachelors degree in Mathematics-Adolescence Education, Auer has maintained a 3.56 GPA.
Danielle DiCintio, GR, Guard, Somers, N.Y. -- In her last season of eligibility, DiCintio put up a standout graduate transfer season with the Wildcats and earned Second Team All-ECC honors for the first time in her career. The Wildcats' leading scorer this season with 11.7 points per game, the guard started all 30 games and led Daemen beyond the arc, shooting 35% from three after going 81-of-231. She finished the season shooting 37% from the field (119-of-320). DiCintio led the Wildcats with 94 assists (1.6 assists/game ranked second in the ECC) and added 43 steals, 10 blocks, and 4.0 rebounds per game on the year. She finished with double-digit points in 17 games and made five or more triples in five games, including a season-high six three pointers twice (vs. Queens on Jan. 12 and at Molloy on Feb. 14). The graduate student tallied her 1,000th career point this season at Hawaii Pacific on Dec. 21. DiCintio is earning her Masters degree in Inclusive Childhood Education and has maintained a 3.56 GPA.
Claire Pikett, Jr, Guard, Holland, N.Y. -- Putting together a standout junior season, Pikett earned First Team All-ECC honors after being an everything player for the Wildcats on both sides of the ball. The guard started all 30 games, averaging 30.9 minutes per game, and finished the season ranking second on the team in both scoring and rebounding with 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Pikett led the Wildcats and ranked third in the league with 52 total blocks (1.7 blocks/game) and also led the team with 60 steals (2.0 steals/game) while ranking third with 78 assists/game. She finished her junior campaign shooting 37.5% from the field (119-of-317) and 34% (46-of-135) beyond the arc. Pikett tallied a career-high 22 points in Daemen's East Region quarterfinal victory over Jefferson on March 14 after shooting 10-of-14 from the field and finished the season with two double-doubles, both coming in wins over Mercy (Dec. 15, Feb. 9). Earning her Bachelors degree in Childhood Education/Special Education, Pikett has maintained a 3.63 GPA.
The Wildcats put together another standout season, winning the program's sixth straight ECC regular season title and fourth consecutive ECC Tournament title. Advancing to the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament for the sixth season in a row,No. 2 seeded Daemen won the ninth NCAA Tournament game in program history in a commanding 70-48 victory over No. 7 seed Jefferson but fell to #22 (No. 3 seed) Holy Family in the East Region semifinals, 55-68. The Wildcats finished the season with a 22-8 overall record and a 15-1 record in ECC play.
Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
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