Wingate’s Anna Atkinson Earns WBCA Scholarship

Atlanta, Ga.----The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has selected Wingate University's Anna Atkinson (Marion, N.C.) and Vanderbilt University's Christina Wirth as the 2009 WBCA Scholarship Award winners. The WBCA made the announcement Thursday evening.

These awards are presented annually to two women's basketball players in any of the five WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College) who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the sport of women's basketball and to academic excellence. The scholarships enable deserving student-athletes to complete their undergraduate degrees or to begin work on advanced degrees. Each award is in the amount of $1,000.

"The WBCA is pleased to recognize those who excel both on and off the court and this year's scholarship recipients have done this," WBCA CEO Beth Bass says. "Anna Atkinson and Christina Wirth have dedicated their time not only to basketball, but to academics. Their exceptional efforts are worthy of being honored. They both have bright futures ahead of them."

Atkinson is a four-year starting point guard who currently ranks first in the South Atlantic Conference in assists per game (6.6), steals per game (3.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5). The McDowell High School product is ranked first in the NCAA Division II national rankings in assist-to turnover ratio and fourth in assists per game. She set the SAC steals record Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009. Atkinson is a three-time All-SAC performer.

A two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® first team selection (college division), Atkinson is a Biology major with pre-dental specialization. She sports a perfect 4.00 GPA. The recipient of the 2007-08 NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, Atkinson made history as the first SAC student-athlete to be honored with the national CCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. Previously, Atkinson received regional honors from the CCA organization.

Atkinson earned the 2008 South Atlantic Conference Female Athlete of the Year Award and the 2008 SAC Presidents' Award, presented to the conference's top female scholar-athlete. She is only the third person in conference history to win both of the league's prestigious post-season awards. Atkinson was the 2007-08 SAC Player of the Year and SAC Scholar-Athlete Award winner for women's basketball.

The SAC double-double was not Atkinson's only academic and athletic double-double last year. In addition to her ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® first team laurels, she was a third team Daktronics All-American in 2008. Atkinson was one of only three NCAA Division II women's basketball student-athletes to earn All-America honors on the court and in the classroom last year.

When not on the court or in the classroom, Atkinson has spent time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, helping to build homes for local residents. She was a Union County Public School System volunteer, spending one year as a reading mentor at Wingate Elementary School.

Vanderbilt senior guard Wirth is a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and a candidate for the Wooden Award. She is a member of The State Farm Wade Trophy watch list. Wirth is averaging 15 points per game for the Commodores.

Wirth is a human and organizational development major who is already taking graduate classes towards a Master's Degree in nursing. She was also recently named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® third team (university division). On the court, she was a unanimous first team All-SEC selection. In addition, she was named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Outside of school and basketball, Wirth serves as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative for women's basketball. She is a part of Vanderbilt's Fellowship of Christian Athlete's leadership team. The Mesa, Ariz., native is also a member of the 2009 SEC Community Service Team.

Atkinson and Wirth will be formally presented their awards during the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday, April 7, at Noon (CDT) in the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront Grand Ballroom. The awards luncheon is part of the 2009 WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four® in St. Louis, Mo.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.