Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

These awards are presented annually to two women's basketball players in any of the five WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College) who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the sport of women's basketball and to academic excellence. The scholarships enable deserving student-athletes to complete their undergraduate degrees or to begin work on advanced degrees. Each award is in the amount of $1,000.

"Jaime and Whitney are exceptional student-athletes and are deserving of this year's WBCA Scholarship Award," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Their devotion to the game of basketball as well as to their academic efforts are extraordinary. I wish them well on their future career path."

Fornetti, a senior guard at Albion College has helped her team win their first-ever conference championship, a conference tournament title and the programs first trip to the NCAA Tournament (03-04). In the 2004-2005 season, her team set a school record with a 25-5 overall record, a first place finish in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), an NCAA at-large bid and the school's first trip to the NCAA "Sweet 16". Last season, she also received Defensive Player of the Year and was named MIAA Player of the Week for setting a conference record for most free throws and best percentage in a game.

Academically, Fornetti has excelled with a 3.97 GPA majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She has been involved in a research project doing DNA research in fruit flies and has been a member of the MIAA Academic Honor roll for three straight years. She was elected as a member of both the Chevron chapter of the Mortar Board National Honor Society and the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. She recently was elected as a member of the Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa's National Honor Society.

Fornetti has also been a mentor in the area elementary schools once a week for at-risk students over the last four years, as well as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Cave, a senior forward at Siena College, started 28 out of 29 games last season and finished with the seventh highest individual rebounding total in the school's history (267). She was one of only two players in league play to average a double-double and tallied 14 double-digit scoring games, 13 double-figure rebounding games and eight double-doubles. This year, Cave is leading the team and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in rebounding and ranks high in the league for steals, scoring and assists.

Outside of basketball, Cave holds a 3.79 GPA, majoring in mathematics with a concentration in computer science. She is a member of the 4.0 Club and has volunteered her time tutoring a student who was struggling in calculus at a local high school. Cave has also volunteered by hosting her own rebounding clinic for a local junior high boys' basketball team.

Fornetti and Cave will be formally presented their awards during the WBCA Awards luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Sunday April 2 at 12:30 p.m. (ET) in the Hynes Convention Center Ballroom. The awards luncheon is part of the 2006 WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in Boston, Mass. This year the WBCA celebrates it's Silver Anniversary, marking 25 years of existence.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA 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 in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.