INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Feb. 11, 2014 – Illinois Wesleyan senior guard Lexi Baltes is one of 10 student-athletes named to the 2014 Allstate Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Good Works Teams®, recognizing college players who have made a commitment to improving their communities and the lives of others.

In its second year, the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is comprised of 10 student-athletes with five from the NCAA Division I and five from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. Joining Baltes on the Divisions II, III and NAIA squad are senior guard Jasmine Brewer of Loyola (New Orleans), senior guard Amy Loya of Union (N.Y.), Worcester State senior guard Michel'le St. Pierre, and Minnesota State senior forward Alexandra Wilkinson.

A total of 84 WBCA nominees were submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their colleges and universities. The final team rosters were chosen by prestigious voting panels comprised of former coaches, student-athletes and media members. The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2014 WBCA Convention and at the 2014 NCAA Women's Final Four in Nashville, and will also participate in a local community project benefitting the city.

Baltes (St. Charles, Ill., East HS) has a 3.89 GPA double majoring in English and political science at Illinois Wesleyan. She is averaging 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and leads the 15-6 team in assists (94) and steals (64). She currently ranks No. 41 in career scoring (653 points), 31st in rebounds (369) and ninth in assists (264) at IWU while her .806 free throw percentage (166 of 206) is third in IWU career records. She had the first recorded triple-double in IWU women's history with 14 points, 16 rebounds and an IWU-record 13 assists in an overtime win vs. Howard Payne on Dec. 28.

She was named to the Academic All-District 7 team and is on the ballot for Academic All-America, is a SAAC member, 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 this summer and through Compassion International, Baltes also sponsors a child from Nicaragua.

Baltes 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 D-III women's final four round when the Titans won the national championship.

"The WBCA is proud to once again partner with Allstate in recognizing conscientious and caring student-athletes who are making a difference in their respective communities," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Congratulations to these 10 young women and to the coaches who are privileged to have them on their respective teams."

"Allstate is proud to join the NABC and WBCA in recognizing college basketball players whose 'good works' align with our commitment to giving back to the communities where we live and work," said Pam Hollander, senior director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2014 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panels. "These remarkable student-athletes serve as an inspiration to us all and another reason to celebrate those who contribute to the good in life."

The women players chosen from Division I are Kentucky senior guard Kastine Evans, Hartford senior guard Alyssa Englert, McNeese State senior center NeTanya Jones, Purdue senior guard Courtney Moses and senior center Shayla Bivins of Georgia Institute of Technology.

Illinois Wesleyan senior Nick Anderson was one of the 117 men's basketball players in consideration for the 2014 Allstate National Association of Basketball Coaches Good Works Team®. The 10 players who earned the honor were: NCAA Division I - Danny Berger, Utah State; Aaron Craft, Ohio State; Joe Harris, Virginia; Dau Jok, Pennsylvania; Jordan Morgan, Michigan.  NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA - Peter Kazickas, Hamilton; Grant Neil, Hope; Aaron Patrick, Mount Aloysius; Tanner Sutton, Columbia (Mo.); Nick LaGuerre, St. Mary's of Maryland.


While more often than not it's a player's performance on the court that is recognized, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® shine a light on the positive impact these student-athletes have off the court and in their communities. The 20 young men and women named to this year's team demonstrate the unique ability to balance academics with athletics while committing themselves to giving back to others. Among the impressive list of accolades this year's teams boast include lobbying state legislature for new laws that could help save lives, donating tuition money to students in third world countries and dedicating countless hours to mentoring underprivileged children.

Former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill headlines the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® voting panel. WNBA basketball star Tamika Catchings, who played at the University of Tennessee, serves on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® panel.

In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2014 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball players Greg Anthony (UNLV), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Alana Beard (Duke); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech) and Nell Fortner (Auburn); current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State); and media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O'Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX).


Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit www.wbca.org.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." In 2013, $29 million was given by The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 200,000 hours of service across the country.