CKSR (Carissa Verkaik Named to Capital One Academic All-District Team in Women's Basketball)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR JAN. 31, 2013

Carissa Verkaik Named to Capital One Academic All-District Team in Women's Basketball

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Calvin College senior Carissa Verkaik has been named to the Capital One Division III Academic All-District 6 team in women's basketball. As a member of the all-district team, Verkaik now advances to the national ballot and is eligible for Capital One Academic All-America consideration.

A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik is averaging 19.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game while connecting on 59.0 percent of her field goal attempts. She has also blocked 59 shots for an average just over over three 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 six double-doubles including 44 over the course of her career. She has been a three-time MIAA MVP and a three-time first team All-MIAA selection. Earlier this month, she became the MIAA's career scoring leader in conference play, becoming just the second player to score more than 1,000 points in league games.

She is Calvin's career leader (all games) in scoring (2,070 points) and blocked shots (409) and is second on the Calvin career list in rebounds (992).

Verkaik carries a 3.76 grade point average while majoring in education.

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 for the second straight year to once again 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 18-1 overall and in first place in the MIAA standings with an 11-0 conference record. The Knights are currently ranked 2nd in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll and in the USA Today Division III Coaches Top 25 poll.

The complete Capital One Academic All-District list for women's basketball can be found on the COSIDA website at: http://www.cosida.com/media/documents/2013/1/2012_13_Cap_One_WBB_Academic_All_District_Team.pdf
Received on Thu Jan 31 22:04:25 2013