April 22, 2009

Kyla Evans, a sophomore on the Eastern Washington University women’s basketball team, will participate in the NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference, which takes place from May 24-27 in Orlando, Fla.

The Brewster, Wash., native will be one of 700 student-athletes from NCAA institutions located throughout the country to participate in a forum to openly discuss issues that affect them on their campuses and in their communities.

Participants will also be able to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills. The conference promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty members and communities.

Evans has shown impressive prowess in the classroom ever since her arrival on the Cheney campus, earning ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 first team accolades. The EWU Scholar-Athlete of the Month for December carries a 3.95 grade point average in Eastern Washington's Honors Program.

On the basketball court, Evans continued her attack on the Eastern record books this past year. She made 60 three-point baskets during the 2008-09 season, the fifth-highest single-season total ever recorded by an Eagle. In the process, she moved her career sum to 112, good for fifth place on that list. Also, the sophomore's career three-point shooting percentage of 38.4 is on pace to set the school record.

In 2008-09, Evans placed 82nd nationally in three-point shooting percentage (36.1) and 100th in three-point baskets per game (2.07). She was third and eighth in those respective categories in the Big Sky ranks. On Jan. 29, she made 6-of-10 in a 90-75 win over Montana State to help the Eagles to within one of the school record of three-point makes in a game (EWU shot 13-of-27 from beyond the arc in that contest).