Gussie Johns and Jackie Gilbert Named to Pac-12 All-Academic Team

SAN FRANCISCO – USC lacrosse senior goalie Gussie Johns (Washington, D.C.) and junior defender Jackie Gilbert (Pleasanton, Calif.) were each named to the inaugural Pac-12 lacrosse All-Academic first team, announced by league Commissioner Larry Scott on Tuesday, May 22.

In order to be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and have participated in at least half of their team's scheduled regular-season events.

Five other Trojans received honorable mention status including junior attacker Gabbi Klein, sophomore midfielders Kaeli Huff and Kerrigan Miller, and sophomore defenders Natalie Byrne and Morgan Kuligowski.

Johns graduated in early May with a degree in business administration from the USC Marshall School of Business with a 3.69 GPA. She was also selected as the recipient of the prestigious Trojaneer Diamond Award, presented to a senior student-athlete who has brought fame and notoriety to the University through their achievements. This season, Johns led the nation in ground balls (4.61 gbpg) and set the program's second-highest single-season mark with 83 total ground balls. She was second in the Pac-12 with a .473 save percentage and had a 9.10 goals-against average. She graduates as the USC all-time leader in ground balls (277) and victories (61).

Gilbert holds the highest grade-point average on the team with a 3.72 and is in her third year studying real estate development. This season, she served as one of the team's primary crease defenders and was the Trojans' draw specialist. She led the team with 86 draw controls and had three games with more than 10 to set new personal records in 2018. She was also third on the team with 22 caused turnovers and ranked fourth with 25 ground balls.

USC finished the year with a 10-8 overall record and advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural Pac-12 tournament where it fell to champion Stanford in a narrow 15-14 defeat. The Women of Troy were 6-4 to finish third in the league's regular-season standings. Sixth-year head coach Lindsey Munday is 79-38 (.675) through the 2018 season.

For more information on the USC women's lacrosse team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCTrojansLax.

Players Mentioned

Natalie Byrne

Jackie Gilbert

Kaeli Huff

Gussie Johns

Gabbi Klein

Morgan Kuligowski

Kerrigan Miller