Jill VanEperen of Freedom, Wis. Named To Capital One Division-III Academic All-America Third Team

2014 Feb 19

Jill VanEperen, a Senior at Ripon College, was named to the Capital One Division-III Academic All-America Third Team on Monday, becoming the second Ripon College women's basketball player to earn that distinction and first since 2005. VanEperen is the only women's player from the Midwest Conference to be selected to any of this year's three teams, which each consist of five players.

A Mathematics major from Freedom, Wis., VanEperen has maintained a 3.94 Cumulative GPA during her four years at Ripon. She leads the Red Hawks in virtually every major statistical category this season, including scoring (16.0 ppg), rebounding (5.7 rpg), assists (3.6 apg), steals (2.6 spg), blocks (0.9 bpg), field goal percentage (.531) and free throw percentage (.789).

VanEperen currently ranks in the top 10 in the MWC for steals (2nd), scoring (3rd), blocks (6th), assists (7th), FG pct. (8th) and FT pct. (10th). A two-time Academic All-Conference and 2013 Second Team All-Conference selection, VanEperen ranks third in school history for career assists (259) and steals (192), fifth in blocks (48) and 11th for points (940). She is the only player in program history to rank in the top 11 in scoring, while also ranking in the top five in both assists and steals.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.30 on a scale of 4.00 and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution.

VanEperen is the daughter of Rick and Patty VanEperen of Freedom, Wis.