LC State Women’s Basketball: Four Earn CSC Academic Honors

LC State Women’s Basketball keeps showing what it means to excel, both on the court and in the classroom. For the 2025-26 season, four outstanding players picked up the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District awards.

CSC announced the recognition on Tuesday, highlighting student-athletes who shine academically and athletically. Seniors Sitara Byrd, Payton Hymas, and Lindsey Wilson wrapped up their careers with this honor, while Kendall Wallace snagged it in her first eligible season.

Let’s take a closer look at what these athletes have accomplished and why these awards matter.

LC State Women’s Basketball: Champions in Academics and Athletics

The CSC Academic All-District award really shows what it takes to balance sports and school. To earn it, student-athletes need to start in at least 66% of games or appear in 90%, keep a GPA of 3.50 or higher, and be at least a sophomore.

Each program can only nominate four players. That makes this honor pretty tough to get.

Meet the Honorees

Sitara Byrd: A Stellar Career

Sitara Byrd, a senior majoring in elementary education, pulled off a jaw-dropping 3.99 GPA. She picked up her second CSC Academic All-District honor this year.

Byrd dominated the boards, finishing her career fourth all-time at LC State with 815 rebounds. She also ranked sixth in 3-point percentage at 40.5%.

This season, Byrd led the Warriors with 14 points per game and grabbed 6.9 rebounds per contest. Her 80 steals put her third in the Cascade Conference, and she shot nearly 50% from the field.

She made the All-Cascade Conference team and snagged a CCC Offensive Player of the Week nod.

Payton Hymas: Leading with Excellence

Senior Payton Hymas, a kinesiology major with a 3.59 GPA, also landed the CSC Academic All-District honor. Hymas, from Middleton, Idaho, led the Warriors in assists (136) and was second in the CCC for both assists and steals (87).

She averaged 13.5 points per game and hit 81.7% of her free throws, sinking 98 attempts. Hymas earned All-Cascade Conference honors and a CCC Defensive Player of the Week award.

Lindsey Wilson: Consistent and Reliable

Lindsey Wilson, graduating with a degree in elementary education and a 3.66 GPA, just had her best season yet. The senior from Tigard, Oregon, led the CCC in field goal percentage at 61.6%, which is fifth-best in a single season at LC State.

Wilson is second all-time in field goal percentage at 57.1%. She put up 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, always steady and dependable.

Kendall Wallace: A Breakout Season

Sophomore Kendall Wallace, majoring in exercise science with a 3.77 GPA, really broke out this season. She led the Warriors with 73 three-pointers and ranked fifth in the CCC for 3-point percentage at 40.8%.

Wallace averaged 10.5 points per game and made her presence felt on defense with 57 steals. Her field goal percentage stood at 45.3%.

The Importance of Academic and Athletic Balance

Coach Caelyn Orlandi couldn’t hide her pride in these four players. “They have been tremendous examples of what it means to be student-athletes. They bring the same dedication, determination, grit, and hard work to the court and the classroom and balance excellence in both categories. A well-deserved award to honor their hard work,” Orlandi said.

The achievements of Byrd, Hymas, Wilson, and Wallace show what’s possible when you put in the effort, both in sports and in school. Their success is a nod to their hard work and the support from coaches and advisors.

Looking Ahead

As these athletes move on, their academic and athletic accomplishments will stick with them. The skills they’ve built—time management, discipline, perseverance—are going to come in handy, no matter where life takes them.

For more on these athletes and their achievements, check out the official announcement on Daily Fly.