Western Kentucky guard Jaycee Coe shoots a three Sunday, January 1, 2017, during Western Kentucky's 90-38 win over Florida International at E.A. Diddle Arena. (Bac Totrong/photo@bgdailynews.com)

Western Kentucky sophomore guard Jaycee Coe has been granted her release to transfer, the Lady Topper basketball program announced Thursday.

A university news release stated: “Guard Jaycee Coe has been granted a release to continue her playing career at an NAIA institution. We thank Jaycee for her two years with our program and wish her the best moving forward.”

Coe spent two years with the WKU program but played just one season after having to sit out in 2015-16 due to transfer rules. Coe and teammate Kyvin Goodin-Rogers transferred to WKU from Kentucky in 2015.

A tweet on Tuesday indicated Coe will transfer to Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla., an NAIA school that will allow her to become immediately eligible.

Coe averaged 5.2 points per game in 26 games last season. Designated as the Lady Toppers’ sharp long-range shooter, Coe shot 36.4 percent from 3-point range and averaged 9.4 minutes per game.

The 5-foot-11 Gainesboro, Tenn., native scored a season-high 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting from 3 against Charlotte on Jan. 5. She hit one 3-pointer and had a block in the Lady Toppers’ first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Ohio State.

WKU went 27-7 last year and won the Conference USA regular season and tournament championships.

Coe joins seniors Kendall Noble, Micah Jones and Ima Akpan as those exiting the program. The Lady Toppers announced in November its early signing class of Nichel Tampa, Terry Smith and Sherry Porter.

This spring, WKU has received verbal commitments from junior college guard JaNoah Daniels of West George Tech and forward Arame Niang from Japan.

DUCKWORTH EARNS COSIDA ACADEMIC HONORS

Western Kentucky baseball player Kaleb Duckworth earned 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District II Team honors, the program announced Thursday.

Following his All-District and All-American Third Team selection in 2016, Duckworth becomes the second Hilltopper to earn the distinction at least twice in his career, following Matt Rice in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

CoSIDA Academic nominees must be a starter or significant contributor to the team while carrying at least a 3.3 grade point average.

The Henderson native ranks third for WKU with six home runs and a .398 slugging percentage. Duckworth leads the team with 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts, starting in 35 of 46 games this season.

In the classroom, Duckworth boasts a 3.96 GPA while pursuing a degree in accounting. Last month he earned the Conference USA Academic Medal (3.75 GPA or higher) distinction for the third straight year.

With All-District II honors, Duckworth is eligible for the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, which will be announced at the beginning of June. Last season, the outfielder was selected to the Third Team nationally, becoming the first WKU student-athlete to do so since Ian Tompkins in 2014.

The Hilltoppers travel to Charleston, W.Va., this weekend to take on Marshall for a three-game C-USA series. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday contests at Appalachian Power Park begin at 1 p.m., noon and 9 a.m. CDT, respectively.

FORMER TOPS LB DAVIS HEADED TO RAMS CAMP

Western Kentucky is now sending 11 former players to NFL camps this month.

Drew Davis accepted an invite to the Los Angeles’ Rams minicamp, WKU’s football program announced Thursday.

Davis was a special teams captain on the 2016 Hilltopper team that went 11-3, winning Conference USA and the Boca Raton Bowl.

Davis, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker from Madison, Ala., finished last season with 34 tackles and an interception, which he returned five yards. Much of his playing time came on special teams, where he was a key member of punt and kick units.

Davis will join second-year tight end Tyler Higbee as former WKU players associated with the Rams organization.

Eleven WKU players from the 2016 team are heading to the NFL either as draft picks, undrafted free agents or minicamp invitees.