ST. LOUIS – Colt Ryan of the University of Evansville and Stevie Pierce of Missouri State University have been selected Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today.  Ryan and Pierce were honored for their performance during the period of February 27-March 4.
 
Now in its 13th year of existence, The Valley’s Scholar-Athlete program is sponsored by Prairie Farms, Roberts and Hiland Dairies.  On a weekly basis, the Conference honors its student-athletes for their athletic performance for a one-week period and academic success in the classroom.
 
A guard for the Evansville men’s basketball team, Ryan, a junior from Batesville, Indiana,
averaged 16.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, as the Purple Aces defeated Missouri State (72-64 on March 2) and lost to 24th-ranked Creighton (99-71 on March 3) at the State Farm MVC Tournament in St. Louis.
 
The 2011-12 Prairie Farms MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Ryan, who has a 3.31 cumulative grade-point average in accounting, collected 19 points, three rebounds and two assists in the Aces’ win over Missouri State in the tourney quarterfinals.  In the semifinals, he added 13 points and two assists against the Bluejays.
 
To qualify for Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing.  Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible.  In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.