April 01, 2014

Williams awarded NCAA postgraduate scholarship

Lewis & Clark’s most decorated NCAA women’s basketball player has added another milestone to her long list of accomplishments.

Lewis & Clark’s most decorated NCAA women’s basketball player has added another milestone to her long list of accomplishments.  Kristina Williams was recently awarded a NCAA Women’s Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics.

Williams will receive the nonrenewable scholarship for the 2014-2015 academic year to help her with the payment of her graduate degree. She will also have the honor of attending the 2014 NCAA Career in Sports Forum (CSF) in Indianapolis, Indiana June 5-8 at the NCAA national office. The CSF is an educational event that brings together 200 selected student-athletes to learn about careers in sports with the primary focus on intercollegiate athletics.

Williams, who graduated from L&C in May 2013, will attend Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she will receive a Masters of Science in Sport and Exercise Studies. Williams will also serve as a graduate assistant for the women’s basketball program, who are also known as the ‘Pioneers’.

“It’s been a great week,” said Williams. “I’m excited to attend Smith and receive my masters. Also, serving as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Smith will be an invaluable experience.”

Williams knows a thing or two about basketball, helping lead the Lewis & Clark Pioneers to three consecutive NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament appearances. Lewis & Clark was ranked as high as sixth in the nation, a program best, with Williams on the team.

The 5-9 guard was twice named the Northwest Conference Player of the Year, while earning All-West Region First-Team honors twice and second-team honors once. Perhaps her biggest individual recognition came when she was named to both the D3hoops.com and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America First-Team at the conclusion of her senior season.

Williams ended her career at Lewis & Clark as the teams all-time leading scorer since the institutions transition to the NCAA with 1790 points, while holding the school record in double-doubles in a season (12). 

“I’m excited to experience Division III basketball on the east coast. The NEWMAC is a solid conference and Smith is a good program having made it to the NCAA Tournament during the 2012-13 season. On top of that, the Exercise Studies Graduate Program at Smith is very well known in the coaching world, so I am beyond grateful to be a part of it for the next two years.”