CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 16, 2012
Carissa Verkaik Named State Farm Division III All-American by WBCA - Named One
of Two Finalists for State Farm/WBCA Division III Player of the Year Award
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin College junior Carissa Verkaik has been named a State Farm Division III
All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. In addition, she
has been named one of two finalists for the State Farm/WBCA Division III Player
of the Year Award. Verkaik and Amherst senior guard Caroline Stedman are the
two finalists. The winner will be announced during the second annual WBCA
Awards Show on Monday, April 2, in Denver. This event is part of the WBCA
National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s
Final Four.
“The WBCA is pleased to name Caroline and Carissa as the finalists for the
State Farm/WBCA Division III Player of the Year award,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass
in a press release earlier today. “These women have had outstanding seasons,
and are very deserving of this achievement. State Farm is synonymous with
excellence and so are these student-athletes’ performances. I would like to
wish each of these ladies good luck at the WBCA Awards Show in Denver!”
Verkaik is the second individual in Calvin women's basketball history to
receive All-America accolades from the WBCA. Lisa Winkle was so honored in
2007. Verkaik is one of 10 members of the 2012 State Farm/WBCA Division III
All-America team.
A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik
averaged 19.2 points and 8.8 rebounds a game this year. She also blocked 128
shots, establishing a new Calvin single-season record. In addition, she tallied
13 double-doubles and connected on 56.8 percent of her field goal attempts,
86.0 percent of her free throw attempts and 40.5 percent of her three-point
attempts. She was also named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player for the third
straight year, earned a berth on the All-MIAA first team for a third straight
season and was recently named the D3hoops.com Great Lakes Region Player of the
Year for the second straight year.
Last month, she was named to the Capital One Division III Academic All-America
third team in women's basketball and was then selected as one of 10 finalists
for the Josten's Trophy, given to one male and one female player each year that
stands out for athletic and academic achievement as well as community service.
She was part of a Calvin team that finished 28-2 overall, reached the national
quarterfinals and calvincaptured MIAA regular season and MIAA Tournament
titles.
Received on Fri Mar 16 20:34:42 2012
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