AUSTIN, Texas - Bard College senior women's basketball student-athlete Christina Kiser has been named an Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), it was announced Wednesday.

Kiser made the Div. III Academic All-America Third Team for the second consecutive year, making her Bard's first two-time winner. Stergios Mentesides '11, a men's soccer player, is the only other CoSIDA Academic All-America from Bard College.

"It is no surprise to see Christina win this award for the second time," Bard women's basketball coach Casi Donelan said. "She is as tenacious a student as she is an athlete. She has been committed to being the best student, the best teammate and the best community member since the day she arrived."

A biology major with a 3.74 grade point average, Kiser recently completed the highest scoring season in the history of Liberty League women's basketball. She averaged 24.6 points per game against conference opponents and finished No. 3 in the nation in scoring. She also led the Liberty League in steals, free throws made, and free throw shooting percentage (.851). The league's coaches voted her to the All-Liberty League First Team, and earlier this week, she was named to the D3hoops.com All-Region 3 Third Team. She was All-Liberty League First Team as a sophomore, and the Liberty League Rookie of the Year, the ECAC Rookie of the Year, and the D3hoops.com East Region Co-Rookie of the year after her first year.

Kiser has been a stellar student since Day 1, making the Liberty League All-Academic Team in every year eligible. She's also a member of Bard EMS, co-President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and she held at least two part-time jobs on campus every semester. She plans to continue her pursuit of a career as a surgeon after her graduation from Bard in May.

"On top of everything else she's been doing, as a biology pre-med student she has spent a huge amount of time in the lab," Donelan said. "Her Senior Project is working on alternative treatments for bacterial infections that have become immune to traditional antibiotics. She's a brilliant mind, and she is going to be successful and help a whole lot of people."

"Over the last four years, Christina has made an impact on every student, coach, and staff member in our department, and we are so grateful for everything she has done for Bard," said David Lindholm, Bard's Interim Athletic Director. "From her work in the community with Bard EMS, to her tenure as the SAAC President, to her accomplishments on the basketball court. her contributions to our school and athletic department will be felt for years to come. We will miss her next year, but we're excited for her next steps as she graduates from Bard."

CoSIDA began the  Academic All-America program in 1952, and since then, has honored thousands of deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions. Nominations can only come from CoSIDA members in Athletic Communications offices. Voting is held to determine winners in several geographic districts, and student-athletes who make their district's First Team have their names advanced to the national ballot.

Click here to see all of the CoSIDA Academic All-America selections in all divisions.