May 4, 2004

Chicago, Ill. - The UIC softball team is well represented in the latest national statistic rankings released on Tuesday morning, as senior Amanda Rivera, junior Cameron Astiazaran and sophomore Joyce Cathey all can be found rating among the country's best.

Rivera ranks in the top 20 nationally in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage.

Her UIC single-season record 18 home runs is third-most in the country this season behind Christy Browlee of UT-San Antonio (22) and Christina Clark of Fresno State (20).

Rivera's 50 RBI this season is 13th-best in the country while her .799 slugging percentage rates 14th nationally.

Astiazaran enters this week's action ranked in doubles, runs per game and batting average.

The Flames centerfielder is tied for first nationally in doubles per game (0.44) while her 23 total doubles is second overall. Astiazaran is just a pair of two-baggers shy of tying the UIC single-season record of 25 while she is six short of reaching the NCAA single-season record of 29 set by Nina Lindenberg of Fresno State back in 1996.

Astiazaran rates 16th nationally in runs per game (0.96) while her batting average of .413 is the 33rd-best in the country.

Cathey, meanwhile, is ranked 16th in the country in triples with a team-high six this season.

This trio, along with the rest of the Flames, will be back in action on Thursday as they welcome Wisconsin to Flames Field for a 6:00 p.m. single game.