GREENWOOD, Ind. — Three student-athletes from the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team earned a spot on the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team as the full teams were released Tuesday by the organization.

Riley James, Leigha Dennison and Kallie Lusk were the three Crusaders to earn the distinction on the team. James has made the team for the third straight year, Dennison is back on the team for the second straight year while Lusk is making her debut on the team.

To be eligible for All-District honors, student-athletes must be a starter or key reserve with at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and must have reached sophomore athletic eligibility. A select group of Academic All-District honorees will advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Those honorees will be announced on April 15.

Riley James, G, Sr., Davidsonville, Md.
James currently holds a 3.78 GPA and is a Psychology and Social & Human Services double major at Belmont Abbey. She's been the regular starter at point guard for the Crusaders, starting in all 28 games this season.

On the court, James earned second-team All-Conference Carolinas honors and was also named to the All-Defensive team. She averaged 9.4 points per game and also led the team in assists per game (4.4) and also averaged 4.3 rebounds per contest. She had 11 games scoring in double figures for the Crusaders and helped Belmont Abbey clinch the Northwest Division title for the second straight season.

Academically, she has been named to the Dean's List in every semester at the Abbey and she was named the Outstanding Junior Award for her Social & Human Services major. She has also worked with various community service organizations such as United Way and Catherine's House.

Leigha Dennison, G, Jr., Hilliard, Ohio
Dennison, a criminal justice and psychology double major at Belmont Abbey, is making her second appearance on the team. She also has a minor in pre-law and currently holds a 3.78 GPA.

The junior guard started all 28 games for Belmont Abbey this season and was the leading scorer for the team averaging 11.8 points while also averaging two blocks per contest. She had 18 contests of scoring in double figures and had a career-high 20 points in an overtime win over Lenoir-Rhyne.

Off the court, she is a part of the AFACE Honors Society and has helped in various community service projects and works as a resident assistant.

Kallie Lusk, G/F, So, Denver, N.C.
Lusk is on the team for the first time after taking on a more prominent role this past season. She is an elementary education major at the Abbey and has a 3.73 grade-point average.

She appeared in 27 games this season for the Abbey with eight starts averaging 9.2 points per game. She also had three 20-point games this season to help lead the Crusaders to a Northwest Division title and a 21-7 season.

Academically, Lusk has made the Dean's List every semester and also has helped in various community service projects, including "Pied for a Cause" and Mr. Crusader, both benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The full CSC Academic All-District Teams can be found here.