ST. LOUIS -- Twelve conference softball student-athletes have been named to the 2012 MVC Scholar-Athlete first team, including four repeat selections, as voted on by the league's softball sports information directors and announced by the Missouri Valley Conference office today.

Southern Illinois' Mallory Duran-Sellers and Illinois State's Megan Warner earned their third first team honor, making them the 20th and 21st players in league history to be named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete first team in each season of eligibility. Duran-Sellers and teammate Brittney Lang both sport a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Southern Illinois placed four student-athletes on the first team, the most in the league. Drake claimed three spots with Creighton and Illinois State student-athletes earning two spots each. Northern Iowa earned one nod. In all, five conference schools are represented on the first team.

Impressively, Southern Illinois has earned at least two MVC Scholar-Athlete first team selections for 15-consecutive seasons.

In order to be eligible, student-athletes must have at 3.2 GPA or higher, be at least a sophomore in athletic and academic standing and meet certain playing requirements.