NEW ORLEANS — For the second consecutive year, Xavier University of Louisiana's Brianna Pace is a Daktronics-NAIA Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete. The NAIA announced the honors Thursday.
     Pace is a senior from Junction City, Kan., and a graduate of Junction City High School. The XULA computer science major qualified for the NAIA honor by having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale and reaching junior academic status.
     Pace is a three-time All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runner in cross country. She finished third at the GCAC Championships in October and helped the Gold Nuggets finish first in GCAC team scoring for the 12th consecutive season.
     There were 347 women and 223 men honored as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Pace was the only GCAC runner to qualify.
     Pace is the seventh XULA student-athlete to earn Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete multiple times. Catherine Fakler and Brent Kitto were honored four times apiece in their cross country and track and field careers.
     Both XULA teams will conclude the season Friday in the NAIA National Championships at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.