Monday, June 27, 2016
by Western Washington Athletic Communications

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Former Western Washington University basketball player Kayla Bernsen has signed to play professional basketball with Lemvig Basket in the Danish Professional League.

Bernsen was a mainstay in the Vikings since arriving on the Western campus in the fall of 2011. She appeared in a school-record-tying 122 games (59 starts) and ended her career 24th in program history with 1,021 career points. She also ranked third in program history and 6th in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history with 203 career blocked shots. She is one of just four players in GNAC history to record 1,000 points, 650 rebounds and 200 blocked shots.

“I am extremely excited for this opportunity to continue my basketball career overseas,” said Bernsen. “I am grateful for my five wonderful years at WWU, owing a lot to my teammates, coaches and family for supporting me throughout my career.”

As a senior in 2015-16, Bernsen was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection. She averaged 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.03 blocks per game. She led the conference and was 4th in NCAA Division II with 88 blocked shots. She scored in double-digits in 19 of 29 games and recorded 9 double-doubles.

A five-year member of the WWU program (redshirt season in 2013-14), Bernsen graduated from WWU earlier this month with a degree in creative writing.

Bernsen is scheduled to leave for Denmark in mid-August and will start training with the team immediately. Preseason play is scheduled to start in early October.