Kia Nurse, Emily Armstrong named CoSIDA Academic All-Americas

With the 2016-17 academic year completely finished and summer in full swing, two UConn student-athletes were recognized for their achievements as student-athletes as women’s basketball star Kia Nurse and women’s soccer goalkeeper Emily Armstrong were named 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.

Armstrong and Nurse were two of 16 student-athletes from American Athletic Conference schools to receive the honor. Other notable names from the American include East Carolina’s Zay Jones and SMU’s Semi Ojeyele

Nurse was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American third team after an impressive junior season with the Huskies, helping lead UConn to their 10th-straight Final Four appearance. Although Nurse missed time due to an ankle injury, the junior averaged a career-high 12.9 points per game and shot over 46 percent from the 3-point line.

At head coach Geno Auriemma’s Fore the Kids charity golf tournament Monday at the Hartford Golf Club, Nurse expressed how much the achievement meant to her.

“It’s obviously a big thing for me and my family. Growing up it was always you had to do well in school if you wanted to play sports,” Nurse said. “I am fortunate to have that honor, we are student-athletes after all.”

Armstrong finished her career at UConn with her best season, posting a .829 save percentage with 11 shutouts. The senior was named the CoSIDA Academic All-American first team and was also recognized as the Huskies’ outstanding senior scholar athlete.

“Being recognized by CoSIDA as 1st team Academic All-American is truly humbling,” Armstrong said in a statement. “During my time at UConn I was fortunate to have been connected with supportive academic advisors, who challenged me to think in new and different ways. With their support I was able to successfully juggle academics and athletics, while giving top effort to both.”