They Should Probably Rename the Award
Venne is MAC Commonwealth League Player of Week for Fourth Time in Five Weeks
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - You might say that Susquehanna University's All-American senior power forward Kristen Venne of Shillington (Governor Mifflin High School) has been on quite a roll lately. Aside from the fact that she's scored in double figures in 32-straight games and posted eight-straight double-doubles in points and rebounds - and 10 in the last 11 games - she became the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League Player of the Week for the fourth time in the past five weeks on Monday.
And why not? All the 5-9 Venne did last week was averaged 22.0 points and 11.0 rebounds while shooting 55.3 percent from the field (26 of 47) and 82.4 percent from the foul line (14 of 17). While the team went just 1-2, its two losses were to two teams ranked nationally in the latest NCAA Division III poll - eighth-ranked Scranton (51-72) and 14th-ranked Elizabethtown (61-67). Venne had a game high 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the loss to Scranton, and had a game high 24 points and 13 rebounds in the E-town loss. In between, all she did was score 24 points and grab 10 rebounds in a season-saving 80-77 overtime win at Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League rival Moravian Wednesday - playing all but one minute in the game.
"Kristen has gotten better and better each year, but this year she is doing things that go beyond the realm of a normal Division III player," said 12th-year Crusader head coach Mark Hribar. "You think you know your players and what they do, but Kristen's had me stand up and shake my head on very many occasions this season."
In addition to her recent streaks, Venne has scored in double-figures in 89 of a possible 91 games during her collegiate career. That scoring consistency has made her second in Susquehanna women's history with 1,729 points, and third in rebounding with 808.
This season, she continues to lead the team and ranks second in the MAC and 14th in Division III in scoring (21.1 ppg). She also leads the team and is third in the conference in rebounding (9.3 per game), and second on the squad and fourth in the MAC in FG percentage (55.7%, 142 of 255).
A sound rebounder throughout her career, Venne didn't hit double figures in rebounds through the first eight games this season. Once she got her first double-double 11 games ago, she's been on a streak which is probably the best of her career. The only game she didn't post a double-double out of the last 10, she equaled her career high with 29 points while grabbing six rebounds in a 75-66 win over York (Pa.) on January 8 - all that while playing with the flu.
It's not like I starting going out just trying to get double-doubles. I just believe that I help my offensive game if I can be aggressive on the defensive end. I've tried to be more aggressive defensively and that's helped me grab some more rebounds," said Venne.
Also an Academic All-American candidate as a psychology major, she is the daughter of Richard and Ann Venne of Shillington.
Now 11-7 overall, 6-3 and tied for second in the Commonwealth League, Susquehanna plays at league rival Lebanon Valley Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
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