Senior pitcher and catcher Jacque Curtis (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney Area High School) has been honored by the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC Division II) and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA Division II) as Softball Player of the Week for games played April 14-20, 2008.

This marks the first time in Philadelphia University history that a softball player has been honored on a national scale by the NFCA.

The two-way star for the Lady Rams hit an incredible .692 (18-for-26) in eight games with a 1.192 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage as Philadelphia University (14-24, 10-10 CACC) went 4-4 for the week, including 4-0 in conference games, outscoring their league foes 53-4.

Curtis, a fashion design major at the University, drove in 16 runs, scored 12 times and smacked three home runs, two doubles and one triple.  She had one 4-hit game and three, 3-hit games.

"What an amazing accomplishment," said Director of Athletics Tom Shirley.  "Jacque Curtis is one of the most gifted student-athletes to ever step foot on the campus of Philadelphia University.  She performs with a rare combination of grace and tenacity on and off the field.  We are so proud that her achievements are being honored at the conference, regional and national level."

"She is just a remarkable young woman," added Head Coach John Kelly.  "Jacque is such a deserving person and an even more deserving ballplayer.  When she came to this program, she already was a great softball player, but this season she's taken her performance-and more importantly this team's performance-to a higher level.  We couldn't be any happier."

Speaking of the team reaching new heights, the 10 wins in conference play are the most since the program joined the CACC prior to the 2006 season.  Their .500 record in league games this late in the season is easily Philadelphia University's best performance in Coach Kelly's three-year tenure.  With four games remaining on their conference slate, the Lady Rams are still alive for a postseason CACC Tournament berth.

The current CACC, ECAC and NFCA Player of the Week and her Lady Rams' teammates will be back in action at home both today at 3:00 p.m. in a key conference doubleheader versus USP and on Sunday in their regular-season finale against non-league opponent St. Thomas Aquinas at 1:00 p.m.  Sandwiched between those two home twinbills is a Saturday visit to Post University in Waterbury, Conn. for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader, the final regular-season CACC games for Philadelphia University.