University of North Carolina Athletics
Freshman Malu Tshitenge (left) and senior Taylor Koenen have been named to the 2019-20 All-ACC Academic Team.
Koenen, Tshitenge Earn All-ACC Academic Honors
March 4, 2020 | Women's Basketball, Academics
GREENSBORO, N.C. – As the Tar Heels prepare to open play in the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Wednesday afternoon, they've already gotten some good news: Senior Taylor Koenen and freshman Malu Tshitenge both have been named to the All-ACC Academic Team, announced Wednesday morning by the league.
The honor takes into account both academic and athletic performance. This marks just the second time in program history and the first since 2006 that two Tar Heels have been named to the team in the same year.
Both Koenen and Tshitenge are majoring in business administration and have started all 29 games this season.
"I'm so proud of both Taylor and Malu, two great examples of student-athletes at the highest level," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "North Carolina is one of the most respected academic institutions in the country, and Taylor and Malu are shining. They have committed daily to giving their best through hard work, consistency, and grit. They have absolutely earned this exceptional accomplishment. Our prestigious business school has a lot to be proud of as well, as two of their very own are starters are on our women's basketball team."
The Tar Heels (16-13, 7-11 ACC) are seeded 12th in the ACC Tournament and open play Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum against 13th-seeded Wake Forest.
Koenen, a guard from Savage, Minn., and the team captain, is averaging 14.6 points per game and currently ranks in the ACC's top 15 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, assists, steals, three-pointers, assist/turnover ratio and minutes. She has been voted All-ACC honorable mention for her play in her final season as a Tar Heel.
Koenen was named All-ACC Academic for the third year in a row and becomes the second three-time winner in program history.
Tshitenge, a forward from Germantown, Md., is averaging 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. In her first season as a Tar Heel, she leads the ACC in offensive rebounds and ranks 12th in the nation with 4.2 per game. She's coming off a double-double (15/11) in UNC's last game.
Thirty-one conference players earned the award, which requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for the fall semester and also a 3.0 cumulative career GPA.
Virginia senior Jocelyn Willoughby, the ACC's leading scorer, was named the winner of the Kay Yow Award as the ACC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The honor takes into account both academic and athletic performance. This marks just the second time in program history and the first since 2006 that two Tar Heels have been named to the team in the same year.
Both Koenen and Tshitenge are majoring in business administration and have started all 29 games this season.
"I'm so proud of both Taylor and Malu, two great examples of student-athletes at the highest level," UNC coach Courtney Banghart said. "North Carolina is one of the most respected academic institutions in the country, and Taylor and Malu are shining. They have committed daily to giving their best through hard work, consistency, and grit. They have absolutely earned this exceptional accomplishment. Our prestigious business school has a lot to be proud of as well, as two of their very own are starters are on our women's basketball team."
The Tar Heels (16-13, 7-11 ACC) are seeded 12th in the ACC Tournament and open play Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum against 13th-seeded Wake Forest.
Koenen, a guard from Savage, Minn., and the team captain, is averaging 14.6 points per game and currently ranks in the ACC's top 15 in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, assists, steals, three-pointers, assist/turnover ratio and minutes. She has been voted All-ACC honorable mention for her play in her final season as a Tar Heel.
Koenen was named All-ACC Academic for the third year in a row and becomes the second three-time winner in program history.
Tshitenge, a forward from Germantown, Md., is averaging 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. In her first season as a Tar Heel, she leads the ACC in offensive rebounds and ranks 12th in the nation with 4.2 per game. She's coming off a double-double (15/11) in UNC's last game.
Thirty-one conference players earned the award, which requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for the fall semester and also a 3.0 cumulative career GPA.
Virginia senior Jocelyn Willoughby, the ACC's leading scorer, was named the winner of the Kay Yow Award as the ACC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Players Mentioned
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