Top 30 Woman of the Year Nominees

2014 Illinois Wesleyan graduate Lexi Baltes has been chosen as one of the top 30 honorees for the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year award, announced by the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Out of from 446 school nominees, 10 women from each of the three divisions make up the top 30, spanning various NCAA sports. The top 30 honorees reflect the pillars of the Woman of the Year award: outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

In late September, three finalists from each division will be selected to form the nine finalists for the award.  The 2014 Woman of the Year will be announced at an annual ceremony in Indianapolis Oct. 19.
 

A native of St. Charles, Illinois and St. Charles East High School, Baltes had a 3.91 grade-point average double majoring in English and political science at Illinois Wesleyan and is currently enrolled in law school at the University of Notre Dame.
She was a 2013-14 Capital One Academic All-America selection and was also one of 10 student-athletes named to the 2014 Allstate Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Good Works Team, recognizing college players who have made a commitment to improving their communities and the lives of others. She was also was named the 2014 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Woman of the Year.

Baltes was a member of Illinois Wesleyan's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), president of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and member of DRL. Working with her hometown church, Christ Community Church, she helped lead a high school mission trip to Nicaragua last summer and through Compassion International, Baltes also sponsors a child from Nicaragua. As a member of SAAC, Baltes earned the CCIW's Merle Chapman Leadership Award.

She is a Phi Beta Kappa Fellow, a member of Pi Sigma Alpha honorary and was the winner of the 2012 "Elite 89" award at the NCAA Division III Women's Final Four when the Titans won the national championship. In addition, Baltes was named one of 10 finalists across NCAA Division III for the prestigous Jostens Trophy, which honors the most outstanding men's and women's NCAA Division III basketball players of the year.

She averaged 14.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and led the team in assists (110) and steals (73) while earning team MVP honors along with teammate Colleen McMahon. She finished her career ranked No. 37 in career scoring (748 points), 27th in rebounds (403) and seventh in assists (280) at Illinois Wesleyan. Her .808 free throw percentage (185 of 229) is third in IWU career records. She had the first recorded triple-double in the Titans' women's basketball history with 14 points, 16 rebounds and a record 13 assists in an overtime win vs. Howard Payne on Dec. 28.

"These women are perfect examples of NCAA student-athletes succeeding on the field, in the classroom and in life," said Gloria Nevarez, NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee chair and senior associate commissioner for the Pac-12 Conference. "We are impressed by their outstanding achievements, and no matter the paths they take after college, we are confident that they will continue to lead their peers for many years to come."