2017-18 Women's Basketball Roster

#21 Kristina Nelson 2016-17 Women's Basketball Roster

Forward


Height 6'4''
Class Junior
Hometown Buford, Ga.
High School Buford
Kristina Nelson - Women's Basketball - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

CAREER HONORS
• 2016 ACC Academic Honor Roll
• 2015 ACC Academic Honor Roll

CAREER HIGHS
Pts: 16 (at Boston College, 2/18/18)
Rebs: 9, 2x (last vs Virginia, 3/2/18)
FGM: 7 (at Boston College, 2/18/18)
FGA: 10, 2x (last at Boston College, 2/18/18)
3FGM:
3FGA:
FTM: 7 (vs Pittsburgh, 1/12/17)
FTA: 10 (vs Pittsburgh, 1/12/17)
Ast: 7 (at Boston College, 2/18/18)
Blk: 4 (vs Valparaiso, 12/4/16)
Stl: 3 (at Pitt, 1/25/18)
Min: 28 (at Pitt, 1/25/18)

MISCELLANEOUS
Double-figure scoring games: 8

GRAD SEASON (2017-18)
• Played in 37-of-38 games, averaging 15.8 minutes. Just 1-of-2 scholarship players who came off the bench.
• Nelson tallied five double-digit scoring games this season. She had three entering the year.
• Led the team in field goal percentage at 62.0 percent (85-137).
• Scoring average was up in ACC play where she averaged 7.1 points.
• Achieved career best season totals in every major stastical category.
• Was +7.08 on the year.
• Tied her career high of nine rebounds in the ACC Quarterfinal vs Virginia on March 2, marking her best rebounding performance since Nov. of 2016. Also tagged on six points on 3-of-5 shooting.
• Made her first career start on Senior Day vs NC State on Feb. 25. Collected four points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Made second career start vs Villanova on March 18.
• Earned a career high 16 points at Boston College on Feb. 18, tallying a career best seven made field goals while dishing out a career best seven assists. Also grabbed a season high eight rebounds.
• For the first time of her career, Nelson reached double digit points on back-to-back games. Earned 11 points at FSU (1/28) and vs UNC (2/1).
• Went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field at No. 8 FSU, finishing with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
• Recorded the best plus-minus of all Irish players in the 23-point rally over Tennessee on Jan. 18, posting a +20.34.
• Notched a 13-point performance at Wake Forest on Dec. 31, reeling in seven rebounds. Nelson shot 4-of-5 from the field and went a season best 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
• Averaged 6.0 ppg at the Gulf Coast Showcase and boasted the highest shooting percentage on the team over the three games with 69.2 percent (9-13).
• Scored 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting vs No. 3/2 South Carolina on Nov. 26.

SENIOR SEASON (2016-17)
• Played in 34 games, averaging 11.4 minutes
• Boasted a free throw percentage of .618
• Collected a career-high nine rebounds and two steals in the team’s season opener versus Central Michigan on Nov. 11
• Flirted with a double-double against Fordham in the Preseason WNIT on Nov. 14, notching nine points and seven rebounds
• Recorded nine five-plus rebound games this season and 14 such games in her career
• Played a career high 24 minutes against Valparaiso
• Surpassed her 2015-16 rebound total (73) with four rebounds in the team’s win at UNC on Jan. 22
• Achieved a career high 13 points against Pittsburgh on Jan. 12 – made a career best seven throws as well
• Contributed to a close 84-80 victory at Clemson where she scored eight points
• Went 4-for-6 from the field, knocking down eight points in NCAA Tournament victory over Robert Morris on 3/17/17

JUNIOR SEASON (2015-16)
• Appeared in 31 games, averaging 8.4 minutes
• Scored in double figures twice
• Saw first official game action in 20 months in season opener against Bucknell, posting two points and four rebounds
• Scored in double figures for the first time in her career during the victory at Valparaiso with 10 points (4-for-5 shooting) in 15 minutes
• Tallied eight points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal assists in victory over North Carolina on Jan. 10
• Notched 10 points (5-for-6 FG) and grabbed four rebounds in victory at Wake Forest on Feb. 18
• Shone in ACC Tournament quarterfinal win over Duke, finishing with eight points (3-for-3 FG) and six rebounds in 14 minutes
• Logged four points, four rebounds and two assists in NCAA Championship first-round victory over North Carolina A&T
• Played pivotal role in NCAA Sweet 16 game against No. 13/16 Stanford with eight points (4-for-6 FG) in nine minutes

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2014-15)
• Did not play while recovering from shoulder surgery during summer of 2014

FRESHMAN SEASON (2013-14)
• Played in 32 games, averaging 4.0 minutes
• Ranked second on team with a .560 field-goal percentage
• Made college debut in opener against UNC Wilmington with nine points (4-for-5 FG) and four rebounds
• Contributed six points (3-for-4 FG) and three rebounds against Valparaiso on Nov. 16
• Scored four points and blocked two shots (first of her career) against UCLA on Dec. 7
• Handed out season-high two assists at Michigan on Dec. 14
• Added eight points (3-for-4 FG) against South Dakota State
• Totaled five points (2-for-4 FG) and two rebounds against Virginia Tech on Jan. 30
• Scored first postseason points of career with basket (and assist) in ACC quarterfinal win over Florida State  on March 7
• Had two points (1-for-1 FG) and a blocked shot in NCAA Tournament debut (first-round win over Robert Morris on March 22)

HIGH SCHOOL
• Graduated from Buford High School in Buford, Georgia, where she attended her final two years
• Spent her first two prep seasons at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Georgia
• Combined career per-game statistical averages of 13.1 points and 6.4 rebounds
• Saw limited action as a senior due to shoulder injury
• As a junior, was instrumental in Buford’s run to the Georgia Class 2A state championship game and regional title with a 22-8 record, averaging 10.6 ppg. and 6.0 rpg.
• As a sophomore at GACS, helped her team to a spot in the Class 2A title contest and a 17-7 record while averaging 15.5 ppg. and 6.8 rpg.
• Also helped GACS to 20-5 record, Class 2A state semifinals and a regional championship as a freshman in 2009-10, when she logged her career scoring high of 28 points
• Experienced great deal of success on the AAU circuit with Georgia ICE and head coach Antonio Davis
• Helped Georgia ICE to the summer 2009 age-group state and national titles

PREP AWARDS/HONORS
• 2012 Associated Press honorable mention all-state pick
• Three-time all-region/metro choice (2010, 2011, 2012)
• Ranked No. 32 in Class of 2013 by Peach State Basketball/JumpOffPlus
• Ranked No. 39 by ESPN Hoopgurlz
• Ranked No. 44 by Blue Star Basketball
• Ranked No. 48 by All-Star Girls Report

PERSONAL
• Daughter of Nanette and Herb Nelson. Oldest of three children
• Was member of high school’s Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT)
• Attended same high school as Notre Dame quarterback Montgomery VanGorder (son of Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder)
• Wore No. 5 as a freshman, but switched to No. 21 prior to the 2014-15 season in honor of her late brother, Jeremy