Valparaiso University’s Ashley Varner (South Bend, Ind./Washington H.S.) has been named the Horizon League’s Scholar-Athlete of the Month for December.

Varner averaged 13.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in seven games during the month, posting four double-doubles for the Crusaders.  She scored a season-high 19 points against Eastern Illinois and grabbed 10 or more boards in five of the seven contests.  She grabbed what was then a season-high 12 boards against both IPFW and Eastern Illinois.

For the season Varner ranks second on the team averaging 10.7 points per contest while grabbing a team-best 9.5 rebounds per night.

In the classroom Varner is currently enrolled in graduate school working on her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.  She has already earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and has been named to the Horizon League’s Fall and Spring Academic Honor Rolls each of the last three years.  This was the fifth-year senior’s first Scholar-Athlete of the Month honor.

Varner and the Crusaders will return home to the Athletics-Recreation Center on Thursday evening to face Milwaukee.  Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m.