TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) -- Bethany College junior Lindsey Garrison (Triadelphia, W.Va. | Wheeling Park) and Saint Vincent College senior Oyson Jones (Orlando, Fla. | Bishop Moore) were named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Scholar-Athletes of the Month for December.
Each month, the SAAC groups at PAC member institutions are asked to nominate one male and one female student-athlete for PAC SAAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month consideration based on academic and athletic accomplishments. Nominees must be varsity team members in their respective sport and in their junior or senior year. Scholar-Athlete of the Month nominees must also have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and be actively involved within their campus communities.
During the month of December, Garrison put up 43 points, including a 20-point performance in a 70-58 victory over Saint Vincent on December 14. The junior guard is currently shooting 46 percent from the three-point line while averaging 16.9 points per game. Garrison was named player of the week once this past November and previously earned all-conference honors in 2021 when she was tabbed Newcomer of the Year.
The junior education major maintains an impressive 3.9 GPA and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester since 2021. Garrison is the historian of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society and has been named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll in 2021 and 2022.
Garrison is an active member on Bethany’s campus, volunteering her time organizing multiple events, including a children’s halloween party and a shoe drive for Wheeling Middle School. She also has worked multiple youth basketball camps in the Wheeling area.
Female December honorable mention nominees included: Allegheny senior Olivia Kraus (swimming), Franciscan senior Sarah Kelty (swimming), Geneva senior Emily Bucheit (basketball), W&J junior Adalynn Cherry (basketball), Waynesburg junior Madisen Dayton (basketball) and Westminster fifth-year Natalie Murrio (basketball).
During Saint Vincent's 7-0 December, Jones, a senior guard, averaged 15.6 points and 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 58 percent from the field (48-83). Jones scored 10 or more points in all seven games, including 19 points (on 9-of-15 shooting) in a win over Bethany, 20 points (on 8-of-13 shooting) in a victory over Benedictine and 23 points in an overtime win over Simpson. Jones also grabbed 10 rebounds against Simpson for his first double-double of the season.
On the season, Jones has started all 13 games and is averaging 14.2 points per game, while his .564 field goal percentage ranks second in the PAC. The senior has helped lead the Bearcats to a 13-0 record, their best start to a season in program history.
The senior business management major maintains a 3.5 GPA, has been named to the Dean’s List four times and is a Fred Rogers Scholar. He is also a SAP Business One Graduate, one of the only programs in the US that prepares students with practical hands-on experience in one of the world’s most prominent enterprise resource planning systems. In 2023, Jones received College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
On campus, Jones serves as a tech support specialist in the Saint Vincent IT Department. He also is a SAAC representative and an intramural official.
Male December honorable mention nominees included: Allegheny junior Jack Malnar (swimming), Bethany senior Chance Wells (basketball), Geneva senior Joshua Bout (indoor track & field ), Waynesburg senior Jansen Knotts (basketball) and Westminster senior Reese Leone (basketball).