Koenen Named Summit League Women's Basketball Scholar of the Championship

Junior forward earns academic honor alongside on-court awards

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Avery Koenen, a junior forward on the women's basketball team, has been named the 2026 Summit League Women's Basketball Scholar of the Championship. Koenen boasts a 4.0 grade-point average in physical education and is a two-time Summit League Academic Honor Roll selection as well as being named to the Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence last season. She was also recently named the Summit League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the First Team and All-Defensive Team.

Why it matters

This award recognizes Koenen's exceptional academic achievements while also excelling on the basketball court. It highlights the ability of student-athletes to balance the demands of their sport with a rigorous academic workload, demonstrating the well-rounded nature of top collegiate competitors.

The details

Koenen becomes the first player in her program's history to be named the Summit League Women's Basketball Scholar of the Championship. The Scholar of the Championship award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative undergraduate grade-point average participating at each of the Summit League's 19 championships. Each institution that is participating in a Summit League championship is eligible to submit one nominee for the Scholar of the Championship award.

  • Koenen was named the 2026 Summit League Women's Basketball Scholar of the Championship on March 6, 2026.

The players

Avery Koenen

A junior forward on the women's basketball team who boasts a 4.0 grade-point average in physical education, is a two-time Summit League Academic Honor Roll selection, and was named to the Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence last season. She was also recently named the Summit League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the First Team and All-Defensive Team.

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The takeaway

Koenen's achievement in being named the Summit League Women's Basketball Scholar of the Championship demonstrates the ability of top student-athletes to excel both academically and athletically, setting a strong example for their peers and the broader community.