UW-Whitewater senior guard Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) has been named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year. The four-time All-WIAC honoree was joined on the All-WIAC squad by Katie Hildebrandt (McFarland, Wis./McFarland). 

For the fourth consecutive season, a Warhawk has been named the league’s top player. Carollo follows Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) who received the award the previous three seasons. In addition to the WIAC’s top honor, Carollo was selected All-WIAC for the fourth time and to the All-Defensive Team for the third consecutive season. This season, Carollo has led the conference in nearly every statistical category including scoring (21.2 per game), points (593), rebounding (9.2 per game), field goals made (202), free throw shooting (116 made, 84.1%), three-pointers made (73), assists (116, 4.1 per game), steals (62, 2.2 per game) and total minutes played (960). She ranks among the top 20 in Division III this season in points, points per game and three-pointers while holding top 50 marks in rebounds, field goals, free throws and assists. The four-time All-American (two honors from the Women’s basketball coaches association and two from D3hoops.com), set the WIAC record in career three-pointers this season and broke the program record for career rebounds – a mark that had stood for 41 years. Carollo currently has 28 career double-doubles – tied for the program record. 

Hildebrandt, a fellow senior, claimed Honorable Mention All-WIAC recognition for the second straight season. The forward ranks among the top 20 in the league in scoring (9.0 per game), rebounding (5.2 per game), field goal percentage (40.0), free throw percentage (69.6), assists (1.6 per game), blocks (1.2 per game) and steals (1.0 per game). 

Olivia Zuege (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) represented UW-Whitewater on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team this season. Carollo was also named the league’s Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete for Women’s Basketball – awarded to the top senior in the conference. 

These seniors helped lead the Warhawks to the program’s fourth WIAC Tournament Championship and ninth consecutive berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament. UW-Whitewater will open NCAA regional action for the 23rd time in program history Friday against Principia College. Tipoff is slated for 7 PM in Kachel Gym.