CKSR (Carissa Verkaik Named Division III Capital One Academic All-American in Women's Basketball)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Carissa Verkaik Named Division III Capital One Academic All-American in
Women's Basketball

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Calvin College junior Carissa Verkaik has been named a Capital One Division
III Academic All-American in women’s basketball. Verkaik has been named to the
Division III Capital One Academic All-America Third Team. Verkaik is the second
individual in Calvin women’s basketball history to receive the prestigious
accolade as Lisa Winkle was an Academic All-American in both 2006 and 2007 in
women’s basketbal
A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik
is averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game while connecting on 56.5
percent of her field goal attempts. She has also blocked 100 shots for an
average just over over four blocks per game. She is ranked nationally in both
field goal percentage and blocked shots per-game average.
She has been a two-time MIAA Player of the Week this year and has tallied 10
double-doubles during the season including 34 over the course of her career.
She has been a two-time MIAA MVP and a two-time first team All-MIAA selection.

Verkaik carries a 3.67 grade point average while majoring in education. A year
ago, she was a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Verkaik has also found time to be a two-sport athlete at Calvin. Last spring,
she was a member of the Calvin women’s track and field team and captured the
league title in the high jump to earn a spot on the All-MIAA women’s track and
field team. She later competed in the high jump at the NCAA III Outdoor Track
and Field Championships.
The Calvin women’s basketball team is currently 23-1 overall and recently
captured its second straight MIAA regular season title with a 15-1 conference
record. The Knights are currently ranked fifth by both d3hoops.com Top 25 poll
and by the USA Today/ESPN Division III Coaches Top 25 poll.

Verkaik is the fourth Calvin athlete during the 2011-12 academic year to
receive Academic All-America accolades as Miles Colago (men's soccer), Lizzie
Kamp (volleyball) and Rebecca Kamp (volleyball) have also been so honored this
year.
Received on Tue Feb 21 13:51:23 2012