Hall of Fame
Kari Crnkovich Crask enjoyed an outstanding four-year career as a member of the McKendree women’s basketball program. She had a well-rounded game that saw her excel as a scorer, rebounder, shooter and defender for a Bearcats’ program that was on the rise throughout her career.
After her freshman season was cut short due to injury, Kari was a mainstay in the Bearcats’ lineup during her final three seasons. From her sophomore through senior seasons, she appeared in 100 games for McKendree. That includes 35 as a senior in 1995-96, which is tied for the most games played by an individual in a single season at McKendree.
In her four years at McKendree, Kari registered 1,532 points, 697 rebounds and 165 steals. At the time of her induction, she ranks sixth in scoring, seventh in rebounding and 10th in steals. One of the best long-range shooters of her era, Kari connected on 130 three-point field goals, which is good for seventh on the Bearcats’ career list. She is third all-time in three-point field goal percentage at 37.5 percent, and holds the single-season mark by connecting on 42.1 percent of her tries from beyond the arc as a senior in 1995-96.
Kari was just as solid at the free throw line. She ranks second on the McKendree career list with 442 free throws made, and is third on the career chart in free throw percentage, making 78 percent of her attempts. Kari was a first-team All-Conference honoree in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) as a junior and followed that with second-team All-AMC mention following her senior year. Off the court, Kari was a four-time Academic All-AMC honoree.
In addition to her accomplishments on the basketball court, Kari was a two-year member of the McKendree softball program. As a junior in 1995, she batted a team-high .377 and starred in center field while helping the Bearcats to a fourth-place finish at the NAIA Softball National Championship.
