Benavidez is a first team selection on the 2012 academic honor squad.

The junior from Midlothian owns a 3.46 overall grade point average as a business administration major at Sam Houston. A member of the SHSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a Dean's List student, she is a kinesiology minor.

Benavidez was a first team All-Southland Conference outfielder, starting in center field for all of Sam Houston's 50 games this season. She ranked eighth in the Southland in total hits (50) and total bases (75) and fifth in steals (5). Boasting a .329 season batting average, she led the Bearkats with 16 multiple hit games.

The other three Bearkats on the 2012 Academic All-Southland softball team were second team selections.

Allison, a third team All-Southland Conference shortstop this spring, holds a 3.56 grade point average as a kinesiology major and management minor. The sophomore from College Station A&M Consolidated started 45 of SHSU's 50 games this spring. She ranked sixth in the Southland in home runs (7) and produced .452 slugging average ... starter on 2012 Bearkat team that bounced back from 1-13 start to win 24 of their next 28 games to finish as Southland Conference runner-up. A Dean's List student, she also is a member SHSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Garrison earned honorable mention All-Southland pitche and also was selected to Southland All-Tournament team. She produced a 3.40 overall grade point average as a psychology major and health minor. The senior from Garland  ranked first in Southland in saves (3), seventh in wins (12), eighth in innings pitched (148) and complete games (15) and 10th in strike outs (91). She was a President's List student with a perfect 4.00 grade point average during 2012 spring semester.

Coggins has produced a 3.72 overall grade point average as a business administration major and marketing minor. The sophomore from Sealy started all 50 games at second base and was the  fourth-leading hitter on 2012 Bearkats (.268). She is an outstanding fielder with .984 fielding mean (only nine errors in 254 chances). She was a President's List student with perfect 4.00 grade point average during the 2012 spring semester.

The four Academic All-Southland selections all were starters on the 2012 Bearkat team that bounced back from 1-13 start to win 24 of their next 28 games to finish as Southland Conference runner-up. Sam Houston State also reached the finals of the Southland Conference post-season tournament.

The all-academic teams are voted on by the head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance administrators from each Southland university. Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competition to qualify for the all-academic squad.

2012 Academic All-Southland Conference Softball Team