VCU news

By Maggie Walsh

Richmond, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University's senior forward Kristine Austgulen (Bergen, Norway) was named Verizon Academic All-America Team Member of the Year for the women's basketball university division by College Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA) earlier today. Austgulen becomes the first basketball player in VCU history, as well as the first female to receive this honor and the second athlete overall.

Austgulen carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is majoring in political science. The Bergen, Norway native earns first team Academic All-America honors for the second straight year and makes her third straight appearance on the Verizon Academic All-America team. She became the first VCU women's basketball player to receive this recognition sophomore year. 

Austgulen also earned first team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors junior year and was a second team pick the previous season. In addition, Austgulen was selected to Verizon's Academic All-District first team sophomore through senior years as well and was also a CAA scholar athlete all three years.

Austgulen currently holds 10 school career records and 11 season records, including ranking third on the Rams scoring list with 1,572 career points and second all-time with 799 rebounds. In addition, Austgulen is first in VCU's career record book with 364 made free throws and has 28 career double-doubles, which is second best in school history.

Austgulen currently leads the CAA in both scoring (18.7 ppg) and rebounding (10.7 rpg) and also has collected a CAA season-high 14 double-doubles through 23 games for the Rams this season. Austgulen has been named CAA Player of the Week three times during the 2002-03 campaign and has earned this award five times throughout her career.

Another milestone which Austgulen accomplished while at VCU was becoming the first women's basketball player in Rams' history to have her jersey retired and just the second athlete in the history of both basketball programs.

Athletes nominated for the honor of Verizon Academic All-American must have a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average on a scale of 4.00, be a starter or key reserve and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her institution. Voting is done by members of CoSIDA.