Carissa Verkaik Named State Farm/WBCA All-American - Named Finalist for Player of the Year Award
Friday, March 16, 2012
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. 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.
Carissa Verkaik Named D3hoops.com Great Lakes Region Player of the Year
Monday, March 12, 2012
For the second straight year, Calvin College junior Carissa Verkaik has been named the D3hoops.com Great Lakes Region Player of the Year. A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik has also been named to the D3hoops.com Great Lakes All-Region first team for the third straight year. This year, Verkaik averaged 19.2 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. 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.
Calvin Falls to St. Thomas 83-72 in Overtime in National Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 10, 2012
CHICAGO, IL - The Calvin women’s basketball season came to an end Saturday in a national quarterfinal game as the Knights suffered an 83-72 overtime defeat to St. Thomas. Calvin concludes its season with an overall record of 28-2. Calvin trailed 30-25 at halftime and then fell behind 36-25 in the opening minutes of the second half. Calvin battled back to tie the game at 69-69 and had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation but a last-second three-pointer by Courtney Kurncz was in-and-out at the buzzer. In overtime, St. Thomas (30-1) outscored Calvin 14-3 to pull away for the win. St. Thomas will face Illinois Wesleyan in a national semifinal game next Friday. Calvin was making its third appearance in the national quarterfinals but like its prior appearances in 2005 and 2007, came up one win shy of the Final Four. Calvin was led in defeat by junior Carissa Verkaik with 25 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. Verkaik finished the season with 128 blocked shots, establishing a new Calvin single-season record, surpassing the previous record of 124. Senior Courtney Kurncz was one of three Calvin seniors who played in their final collegiate game Saturday night. Kurncz had 10 points and four assists. Seniors Jill Thomas and Leah Mattson also played in their final games Saturday night. Calvin shot 45.6 percent overall but committed 26 turnovers. St. Thomas shot 49.1 percent and was led by Taylor Young with 25 points while Maggie Weiers had 16.
