Women's Basketball's Aubrie Kierscht Becomes USC Upstate's Sixth George A. Christenberry Award from the Big South Conference

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In another record-breaking class of honorees for the Big South Conference's highest award for academic excellence, USC Upstate women's basketball's Aubrie Kierscht finds herself as a recipient of the prestigious George A. Christenberry Award. She joins women's basketball's Riley Popplewell (2020), volleyball's Kelly Wiedemann (2022), volleyball's Julia Gladhill (2025), volleyball's Ali Jansen (2025), and men's soccer's Cooper Jennings (2025) as the Spartans' recipients of the award since joining the league ahead of the 2018-19 academic year.

The award is given to a graduating male and female student-athlete who attain the highest GPA during their undergraduate collegiate careers. The 2025-26 academic year is the 14th consecutive year at least SIX student-athletes have been honored, and the total surpasses the record number of 12 recipients achieved in 2019-20 and 2024-25.

Below is a capsule highlighting Kierscht's career.

Aubrie Kierscht | Guard | 5-6 | R-Jr. | Salina, Kan.

2025-26 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Named a George A. Christenberry Award for Acadmeic Excellence recipient by the Big South Conference … Named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District ... Named Honorable Mention All-Big South … Appeared in 29 games, making 19 starts … Averaged 11.1 points and 2.4 rebounds over an average of 25.8 minutes per game … Shot 40.2 percent (109-of-271) from the field, 41.2 percent (73-of-177) from beyond the arc, and 81.1 percent (30-of-37) from the free throw line … Corralled 70 total rebounds comprised of seven offensive boards and 63 defensive boards … Totaled 18 assists and 14 steals on the season … Poured in a career-high 26 points behind an 8-of-13 (6-of-10 from three) shooting performance versus South Carolina State on 11/17/25 … Corralled a career-high eight rebounds versus Radford on 2/18/26 … Recorded 16 double-figure scoring games and four 20-plus point scoring games.

2024-25 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Appeared in five games … Averaged 8.6 points over an average of 14.5 minutes per game … Shot 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the field, 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent (3-of-4) from the free throw line … Totaled one steal on the season … Poured in a season-high 16 points behind a 5-of-10 (5-of-9 from three) shooting performance versus South Carolina State on 11/13/24 … Recorded three double-figure scoring games … Made her USC Upstate debut versus Kentucky on 11/4/24.

PRIOR TO USC UPSTATE: Transferred to USC Upstate after spending her freshman and sophomore seasons (2022-24) at Presbyterian … As a sophomore, appeared in and started five games … Averaged 8.2 points and 2.6 rebounds over an average of 19.4 minutes per game … Shot 36.6 percent (15-of-41) from the field, 27.6 percent (8-of-29) from beyond the arc, and 100.0 percent (3-of-3) from the free throw line … Corralled 13 total rebounds, all defensive boards … Totaled six assists and two steals on the season … Poured in a season-high 16 points behind a 5-of-8 (3-of-6 from three) shooting performance versus Johnson C. Smith on 11/11/23 … Pulled in a season-high six rebounds versus Columbia International on 11/15/23 … Recorded three double-figure scoring games … As a freshman, named to the Big South's All-Freshman Team … Named Big South Freshman of the Week on 2/13/23 … Appeared in 30 games, making 18 starts … Averaged 8.7 points and 2.3 rebounds over an average of 23.5 minutes per game … Shot 37.0 percent (87-of-235) from the field, 38.0 percent (65-of-171) from beyond the arc, and 73.3 percent (22-of-30) from the free throw line … Corralled 70 total rebounds comprised of three offensive boards and 67 defensive boards … Totaled 27 assists and 21 steals on the season … Poured in a season-high 18 points on two occasions: behind a 6-of-12 (6-of-10 from three) shooting performance versus Winthrop on 1/4/23 and behind a 7-of-16 (4-of-12 from three) shooting performance versus USC Upstate on 1/18/23 … Pulled in a season-high seven rebounds versus UNC Asheville on 1/25/23 … Recorded 13 double-figure scoring games … Attended Salina (Kan.) Central High School … Ended her interscholastic career as the Mustangs' career scoring leader with 1,685 points … Holds SCHS's career three-point record with 318 career three-pointers made … As a senior in 2021-22, named Miss Kansas Basketball … Named Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 5A First Team … Named to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game … Helped SCHS to a 24-1 record and a KSHSAA Class 5A runner-up finish … Averaged 20.7 points per game … Holds SCHS single-season records with 517 points and 113 made three-pointers … Tied a KSHSAA single-game record with 12 made threes in a SCHS record 40-point game versus Valley Center … Shot 52.0 percent from beyond the arc and 89.0 percent from the free throw line … As a junior in 2020-21, helped the Mustangs to a KSHSAA Class 5A third-place finish … Averaged 20.0 points per game … Shot 46.0 percent from beyond the arc … As a sophomore in 2019-20, named Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Player of the Year … Averaged 17.2 points per game … As a freshman, averaged 14.9 points per game … Helped SCHS to 70 wins during her interscholastic career … A three-time First Team All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League selection … Competed for Ohlde Elite, Wheat State, and SSA Gameball on the AAU circuit.

Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans

INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!

Players Mentioned

Aubrie Kierscht

Footer