By: Christina Cracolici, USM Director of Athletic Communications

GORHAM, Maine  –  Senior Jaycie Christopher (Skowhegan, Maine) of the 2026 Little East Conference Champion University of Southern Maine Huskies’ women’s basketball team has earned First Team College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division III Academic All-American ® honors. 

A Leadership and Organizational Studies major, Christopher is the 21st University of Southern Maine student-athlete to earn the distinction of Academic All-American. As one of just four Huskies to be selected to the first team, Christopher is the first since NCAA National Champion (Javelin) Sophia Slovenski ’23 earned the honor in 2023.  Christopher joins Husky standouts Slovenski (2023, 2021), wrestling national champion Daniel Del Gallo ’17 (2017), and former two-time WBCA All-American Ashley Marble ’07 (2007) on the short list of USM First Team Academic All-Americans. Christopher joins Marble as one of two women’s basketball players in program history to achieve the elite academic honor. 

“Jaycie embodies the role of student-athlete with excellence both on and off the court,” said third-year head coach David Chadbourne. “Each of Jaycie’s accomplishments and awards this season are due to her outstanding work ethic and character, commitment to herself as an individual and as a team player, and for possessing a desire to succeed in all areas. As a head coach, Jaycie’s an outstanding role model and example of what our staff wants from each and every one of student-athletes – making academics a priority while achieving to your full potential athletically. I’m excited and proud for Jaycie to earn this honor.” 

The honor of Academic All-American is a title reserved for college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom.  Recently becoming the sixth Huskies’ women’s basketball player to earn Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American status, joining for Southern Maine standouts Ashley Marble ’07 (2005-06, 06-07), Joanna Brown ’98 (1997-98), Laura Pate ’91 (1990-91), Diana Duff ’89 (1988-89), and Maureen Burchill (1984-85, 82-83), Christopher earned  numerous post-season honors after helping Southern Maine to the 2026 LEC Regular Season and Tournament Championship – the program’s first championship since 2013.  

Christopher was also named a 2026 D3hoops.com All-American (second team), 2026 D3hoops.com Region 2 Player of the Year, the New England Women’s Basketball Association (NEWBA) Player of the Year, the Little East Conference Player of the Year, and the Maine State Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (MWBCA) Player of the Year while earning first team honors from each governing body. 

Averaging a team-leading 18.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, Christoper finished among the nations’ leaders in NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball. Shooting a remarkable 45.2 percent from three-point range this season (57-for-126), and 55.2 percent overall (196-for-355) the Huskies’ 6-0 guard racked up 12 double-doubles this season. Scoring in double-figures in all but one of the Huskies’ games this season, and has reached the 20-point mark in 12 games. Hitting 30 points twice, Christopher scored a season-high 32 points in a 70-32 win over VTSU-Castleton to close out the Huskies’ regular season. Snagging at least 10 rebounds in 13 games, Christopher has a season-high of 16. 

In 30 games, Christopher compiled 568 points, 270 rebounds, 106 assists, and 30 steals with a remarkable 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Her 568 points are sixth in single-season records, while her 18.9 point per game are tied for fifth with Joanna Brown (1995-96). Christopher’s 55.2 field goal percentage is ranks ninth, and her 45.2 three-point percentage is third. 

Southern Maine finished the 2025-2026 with a record of 27-3 (15-1 Little East Conference).  The Huskies claimed both the program’s 22nd regular season title and 21st tournament championship, marking the first time the Huskies have finished atop the conference since the 2012-2013 season. 

Earning the LEC’s bid to the NCAA tourney and its 27th overall appearance in the championship field, Southern Maine claimed victories over Johnson and Wales (62-46) in the first round, and then upset No. 7 Bowdoin College on the road 67-59 to earn a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2007. 

Named to the CSC Academic All-District team earlier in the spring semester, Christopher advanced to the Academic All-America ballot.  Members of College Sports Communicators vote for student-athletes across NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA who have excelled academically and athletically. College Sports Communicators began the distinguished Academic All-America® program in 1952, and since then, has honored more than 38,000 deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions with these elite Academic All-America® scholar-athlete honors.  Currently, CSC sponsors Academic All-America® programs for men's soccer, women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and field/cross country. Many other sports are eligible through the At-Large program, including USM sponsored sports field hockey, golf, ice hockey, and wrestling