ATLANTA, Ga. – Senior
Jelena Perovic capped her stellar four-year career with the Union College women's basketball team by earning Division III All-America honorable mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the association announced on Thursday afternoon.
Perovic is just the third player in program history to earn WBCA All-America recognition, joining
Lauren McCormick '11 (honorable mention in 2011) and
Erika Eisenhut '06, HOF '17 (first team in 2006).
"This is such a well-deserved honor for Jelena," said head coach
Katie Marcella. "Jelena is one of the most humble players I have ever coached; it has always been about what she can do to put the team first. And so to finally put another name on the All-American banner is really special. She has left a lasting legacy by not only what she has accomplished but what she has helped this team to accomplish."
Perovic, who also was named to the D3hoops.com All-Region and All-ECAC second teams earlier this week, saved her best play for her senior season. She was named the Liberty League Player of the Year after finishing the season as the conference's only player in the top-six in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.6 points (second) and 7.0 rebounds (fourth) per game, while also leading the conference in both field-goal percentage (.468) and ranking second in blocks (38). The Montenegro native scored in double-figures in 23-of-28 games with six double-doubles this season, and was twice named the Liberty League Performer of the Week. Her 382 points as a senior rank ninth on the program's single-season list and are the most by a Union player since 2008-09.
A three-time All-Conference honoree, Perovic finished her stellar four-year career with 1,103 points and 582 rebounds, playing in 98 games with 70 starts in garnet. The 12th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, she ended her time in Schenectady seventh all-time in scoring and 10th in rebounding at Union, as well as fifth in field goals (468), sixth in both blocks (104) and free-throw percentage (.738), ninth in field-goal percentage (.468) and 10th in rebounds.
The senior helped Union sweep the Liberty League regular-season and tournament titles for only the second time in program history and earn the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004.
