SAN BRUNO, Calif. — The University of San Francisco women's basketball team had three players receive 2019-20 West Coast Conference All-Academic honors Wednesday, including sophomore guard Kia Vaalavirta, who was named to the WCC All-Academic First Team.
 
Vaalavirta was joined by fellow sophomore Abby Rathbun and senior Rojeen Sharifi, both of whom earned honorable mention accolades. At the conclusion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each WCC-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average while also being a significant contributor to her team.
 
Vaalavirta carries a 3.92 Grade Point Average in Biology. She moved into the starting point guard position on Dec. 14 due to injuries and has started every game since. She is second on the team with 28 3-pointers made (31.8%). She hit a career-high six 3s against Saint Mary's on Dec. 28 and has five double-digit scoring games this season.
 
Rathbun has a 3.64 GPA majoring in Advertising. She is one of only two players who have started every game this season for USF. She is 11th in the WCC in total steals with 44. Rathbun has rebounds in every game, points in 25 of 28, assists in 24 of 28, and multiple steals in 13. She recorded a double-double (15 pts, 10 rebounds) in the Dons' win over CSUN on Nov. 16 and has two double-digit rebounds games this season (Nov. 16, Feb. 22).
 
Sharifi is a 3.71 GPA student in her kinesiology major. She was added to the Dons' active roster two weeks into the season and has become an important reserve off the bench for an injury depleted roster. She scored her first career points in her season debut on Nov. 16 vs. CSUN, grabbed her first career rebounds and recorded her first career block versus No. 10 Mississippi State, and she hit her first career 3-pointer on Dec. 21 at Washington.
 
San Francisco concludes the regular season this weekend with road games at Pacific (Thursday) and Saint Mary's (Saturday). Fans can find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.

2019-20 West Coast Conference Women's Basketball All-Academic First Team

Name	School	Yr.	GPA	Major
Katie Campbell	Gonzaga	Sr.	3.36	Psychology
Emily Codding	Saint Mary's	Jr.	3.53	Business Administration
Paige Fecske	Pepperdine	R-Sr.	4.00	Clinical Psychology
Sara Hamson	BYU	Jr.	3.83	Bioinfographics
Ashlyn Herlihy	Santa Clara	R-Jr.	3.61	MBA
Maddie Muhlheim	Portland	Jr.	3.93	Accounting
Myah Pace	San Diego	Jr.	3.67	Architecture
Sophie Tryggedsson	Pacific	Gr.	3.65	Health, Exercise & Sport Science
Kia Vaalavirta	San Francisco	So.	3.92	Biology
Laruen Yearwood	Santa Clara	R-Sr.	3.86	Biology

2019-20 West Coast Conference Women's Basketball All-Academic Honorable Mention
BYU: Maria Albiero
GONZAGA: Louise Forsyth, Anamaria Virjoghe, Jill Townsend, Jenn Wirth, LeeAnne Wirth
LMU: Brittney Reed
PACIFIC: Jessica Blakeslee, Callie Kaiser, Josephine Millard, Kaylin Randhawa
PEPPERDINE: Deezha Battle, Jayla Ruffus-Milner, Jayda Ruffus-Milner
PORTLAND: Lauren Walker
SAINT MARY'S: Claire Ferguson, Sam Simons
SAN DIEGO: Nicole Blakes, Sydney Hunter, Ana Ramos
SAN FRANCISCO: Abby Rathbun, Rojeen Sharifi
SANTA CLARA: Tia Hay, LindseyVanAllen, Emily Wolph