(information as of August 2015)
Name Pronunciation: pah-MEL-uh BIG-ige
Hometown Pronunciation: SEE-mitch
Pronunciation Video: http://youtu.be/nFBdB722Qx8
OF NOTE:
· Spent the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons playing both soccer and basketball; the 2014-15 season was her final one with the hoops squad
CAREER AWARDS:
· 2015 Southeastern Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll
· A two-sport Gator, played with the nationally-ranked soccer team during the 2014 Fall
· Played with Slovenia Senior National Soccer Team in 2014 for World Cup qualifying matches versus Croatia (May 8) and Russia (June 17).
· Spent the 2013 Fall as a standout midfielder for the nationally-ranked Gator soccer team that won a share of the 2013 SEC Regular-Season championship
· Officially added to the Gator basketball roster on Feb. 4, 2014
· At the team’s 2013-14 basketball postseason awards banquet, received the Mary Elliott Unsung Hero Award (team vote)
· 2013 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Soccer team
· Member of the 2014 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
Two-Sport Gator Athletes:
· One of two two-sport Gators on 2014-15 rosters; other is Taylor Burke, Soccer & Track
· Begić is the first two-sport athlete on the women’s basketball team since Chanda Stebbins (1993-97), who also was a member of the Gator volleyball team
· Carolyn Jordan (1975-76) was the first hoops Gator to play two sports and is one of only two Gators in the history of the UF’s women’s athletics program who has earned a varsity letter in three different sports (basketball, softball and track). The other is Ashley Harris (2004-07), who earned letters in soccer, softball and track.
SOPHOMORE Year on the Basketball Court (2014-15):
· Did not suit up for a game (her choice)
· First practice of year was December 8
· First time sat on bench was on December 10 vs. Wisconsin
· Spent 2014 Fall with Gator soccer team (reached 2014 NCAA Elite 8, lost in PKs at Stanford)
· Played with Slovenia Senior National Soccer Team in 2014 for World Cup qualifying
Freshman Year on the Basketball Court (2013-14):
· Dressed for 11 games, but did not see any court time
· Traveled with the team and suited up for the first time at Arkansas (Feb. 6)
· Sat on the bench for the first time during the home game vs. Alabama (Jan. 30); did not dress
· Began practicing with the scout team on Tue., Jan. 21, 2014
Basketball Background:
· Played three years (freshman through junior year) in high school in Slovenia; did not play a fourth year because there weren’t enough players who signed up to make a team
· A coach of the basketball team saw that she was good a ‘fighting for the ball and was tall’ and asked her to play basketball, too
Freshman Year on the Soccer Pitch (2013):
· 2013 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team
· Tied for third among Gators with six assists, third with four goals and 14 points
· SEC Freshman of the Week on Sept. 9 after turning at least a point in three consecutive matches, including goals at Florida International and versus Oklahoma
· Also scored at Mississippi and headed in UF’s first goal versus Auburn
· First collegiate assist came in the season opener versus Florida Gulf Coast
· Sat out Mississippi State match due to concussion suffered in Auburn match
