SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—South Dakota senior guard Nicole Avila-Ambrosi and junior guard Grace Larkins were both voted to the Summit League Women's Basketball Academic All-League Team announced Monday morning by the league office.
 
Larkins, hailing from Altoona, Iowa, earns the distinction for the second time of her career. She is a two-time all-Summit League first team pick. She led South Dakota with 16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game this past season. She scored a career high 34 points in the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament against Northern Arizona. Larkins broke South Dakota's school record for consecutive free throws made with 34 through a six-game stretch and is one of six players in USD history with more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists. She also garnered CSC Academic All-District honors this spring. Larkins carries a 3.78 grade-point average as a marketing major in USD's Beacom School of Business.
 
Avila-Ambrosi, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, receives the honor in her first season of eligibility. She started all 36 games for South Dakota as a defensive specialist that took the challenge of marking the opponents' best guard. She led USD in blocked shots and ranked fourth in Summit League play for blocks. She scored a season-high 16 points in the Summit League Tournament semifinals against South Dakota State. She also garnered CSC Academic All-District honors this spring. Avila-Ambrosi boasts a 3.94 grade-point average as a medical biology major. She plans to pursue a postgraduate degree in the medical field.
 
To be eligible for Academic All-Summit League, a student-athlete must have a cumulative career grade point average (GPA) above 3.3, have complete one full academic year at their current institution and have participated in at least 50 percent of their team's competitions. The five-person team is voted on by the league's sports information directors and faculty athletic representatives.
 
2023-24 Summit League Women's Basketball Academic All-League Team

Name	School	Yr.	Pos.	GPA	Major
Kacie Borowicz***	North Dakota	Sr.	Guard	3.96	Visual Arts & Communications
Nicole Avila-Ambrosi	South Dakota	Sr.	Guard	3.94	Medical Biology
Grace Larkins**	South Dakota	Jr.	Guard	3.78	Marketing
Paige Meyer	South Dakota State	Jr.	Guard	3.97	Business Economics
Tori Nelson**	South Dakota State	Sr.	Forward	4.00	Exercise Science, Community and Public Health

*Career Academic All-League honors