University of Minnesota sophomore catcher Megan Higginbotham and senior designated player Stephanie Sward have been named to the 2005 All-Big Ten softball team. Higginbotham earned first-team honors, while Sward was a second-team selection.

A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Higginbotham ranked second in the Big Ten with a .484 batting average in league games, and led the conference in doubles with seven and total bases with 49. Overall, Higginbotham ranked second in the Big Ten with a .411 batting average, the fifth-highest average in school history. An all-around player, she led the league with 14 runners caught stealing and ranked second with 22 stolen bases in 23 attempts. In mid-April, she became the first Golden Gopher to be named National Player of the Week, and also became the first Big Ten softball player since 2003 to win back-to- back Big Ten Player of the Week honors.

A native of Maplewood, Minn., Sward capped her career with her first All-Big Ten honor. Sward ranked second on the team with a .333 batting average and led the squad with 32 runs scored. She led the Big Ten with 28 stolen bases, six more than any other player in the league. That total ranks third in school history. Sward ranks second all-time in school history with 81 career stolen bases.

The complete list of 2005 All-Big Ten softball teams are below.

2005 All-Big Ten First Team
1B - Garland Cooper, So., Northwestern
2B - Tiffany Haas, Jr., Michigan
3B - Grace Leutele, Jr., Michigan
SS - Stephanie Churchwell, Fr., Northwestern
C - Megan Higginbotham, So., Minnesota
UT – Ashley Esparza, Fr., Penn State
OF – Mindy Heidgerken, So., Iowa
OF – Alessandra Giampaolo, Fr., Michigan
OF – Erin Mobley, Sr., Northwestern
DP – Nicole Motycka, Sr., Michigan
P – Jennie Ritter, Jr., Michigan
P – Courtnay Forster, Jr., Northwestern

2005 All-Big Ten Second Team
1B - Samantha Findlay, Fr., Michigan
2B – Andrea Hilsey, Sr., Purdue
3B – Shelli Messer, Sr., Purdue
SS – Jessica Merchant, Sr., Michigan
C – Jamie Dotson, Jr., Northwestern
UT – Jamee Juarez, So., Ohio State
OF – Kylie Murray, Jr., Iowa
OF – Nicole Mercado, So., Michigan State
OF – Liz Caputo, Fr., Ohio State
DP – Stephanie Sward, Sr., Minnesota
P – Lisa Birocci, Sr., Iowa
P – Eileen Canney, So., Northwestern

<2005 All-Big Ten Third Team
1B – Jenna Hall, Jr., Illinois
2B – Nycole Koyano, So., Ohio State
3B – Shanna Diller, Fr., Illinois
SS – Kris Zacher, Sr., Wisconsin
C – Boo Gillette, Sr., Wisconsin
UT – Katie Hnatyk, Fr., Wisconsin
OF – Stephanie Bercaw, Jr., Michigan
OF – Karisa Evans, Sr., Ohio State
OF – Anastasia Miller, Sr., Wisconsin
DP – Ashley Cutcliff, Sr., Ohio State
P – Ali Arnold, Jr., Iowa
P – Missy Beseres, Sr., Penn State

Player of the Year: Garland Cooper, Northwestern
Pitcher of the Year: Jennie Ritter, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Samantha Findlay, Michigan
Co-Coaches of the Year: Carol Hutchins, Michigan; Kate Drohan, Northwestern