The Great American Conference announced on Monday, July 11, that Arkansas Tech University’s Jalissa Gum has been selected as 2015-16 GAC female athlete of the year.
The award marks the fourth consecutive year that a female student-athlete from Arkansas Tech has earned GAC athlete of the year accolades. Women’s basketball player Rosie Silva started the trend in 2012-13. Rebecka Surtevall of the Golden Suns golf program captured the honor in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
A junior from Red Rock, Okla., Gum was previously named to the 2016 Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America second team and the 2016 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America third team.
She was voted all-region by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association and the NFCA. In addition, she was 2016 GAC softball pitcher of the year and a first team 2016 All-GAC selection.
Gum was 22-4 with a 0.60 earned run average as a pitcher in 2016. She led NCAA Division II in ERA and also ranked among national leaders in hits allowed per seven innings (2nd, 3.18), shutouts (5th, 11) and strikeouts per seven innings (6th, 9.9).
Her 22 wins in 2016 are second-most in a single season by an Arkansas Tech softball pitcher. Dana Aldrich holds the school record with 26 wins in 2008.
Gum was also one of the Golden Suns’ top hitters in 2016. She finished with a .369 batting average and led the team in home runs (10) and runs batted in (49).
The College Sports Information Directors of America voted Gum to its 2016 Academic All-District VII team. She carries a 3.42 grade point average as a biology major.
Arkansas Tech completed the 2016 season with a record of 49-11. Under the direction of head coach Kristina McSweeney, the Golden Suns established a new school record for wins in a season, captured the Great American Conference regular season championship, won the NCAA Division II Tournament Central Region 1 title and hosted an NCAA Division II Tournament Super Regional.
