MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee basketball standouts Dor Saar and Courtney Whitson have proven to be exemplary student-athletes with a propensity for excelling on the court and in the classroom.

Their academic and athletic achievements were recognized as both were named to the Conference USA five-person All-Academic team, as announced by the league office Tuesday morning.

Saar boasts a 3.95 grade point average with a major in business administration and a minor in management. In addition to landing on the C-USA All-Academic team, Saar was also named to the America East All-Academic team during her time at Maine.

The graduate transfer has been instrumental as one of the top newcomers in Conference USA. The senior point guard averages 11.5 points per game, and she leads the Lady Raiders in assists with 3.4. Saar is first in C-USA for 3-point field goals per game (2.5), 3-point field goals made (65), fifth for assist-turnover ratio (1.5) and third for minutes played (35.0). She is also top 50 nationally for 3-pointer per game. She has posted 16 games with double figures scoring and has connected for three-plus 3-pointers in 15 games, including a season-high six at Troy.

Whitson sports a 3.71 grade points average. She majors in English and her minor is secondary education. The junior aspires to be a high school English teacher and basketball coach. Whitson was a recipient of the Dr. Pepper/College Football Playoff Foundation Tuition Scholarship in the fall. She was also a finalist for the True Blue Presidents Award last year, which is the highest academic honor for the Middle Tennessee student-athlete, combining academics, athletics and community service. Whitson is a two-time recipient of the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.

On the court, Whitson is having a banner season and has substantially increased her production in every statistical category during her junior campaign. Whitson leads the Lady Raiders in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg). She leads the nation in minutes per game (38.4). Whitson is also among C-USA leaders for rebounding (fifth, 7.7), 3-point field goals made (fourth, 2.1), defensive rebounds (sixth, 5.1) and offensive rebounds (9^th, 2.6). Whitson has scored in every game, including 19 in double figures, and she has pulled seven-plus rebounds in 21 games.

Conference USA All-Academic Team
Dor Saar, Middle Tennessee
Courtney Whitson, Middle Tennessee
Rita Pleskevich, Florida Atlantic
Aaliyah Dunham, Marshall
Ariel Colon, FIU