Monday, Nov. 28, 2011

DES MOINES, Iowa - Former Drake women's basketball standout Kristin Turk (Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln) has signed a professional contract to continue her basketball career with the Mark Basket squad in Kinna, Sweden.

She will play in the Damligan League, Sweden's top division, for head coach Frank Alm. The team finished fifth in the Damligan standings with a 6-3 record last season. Turk will pair with former North Carolina State standout Ashley Key at the guard position for Mark Basket.

"I am really excited to start playing basketball with a team again," Turk said. "I have been waiting to find a team for a long time and I couldn't be more pumped to start a new chapter in my life. I have never lived anywhere but the great city of Des Moines, so there will be a lot of adjusting, but I am ready to experience a new culture and see what I can do at the professional level."

Turk played at Drake from 2007-11 and was a first team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection last season after scoring a conference-best 20.0 points per game. Turk was named MVC Player of the Week a league-best four times last year and finished her collegiate career with 1,405 points - good for 15th on the all-time Drake list.

"I know that playing for Drake was one of the best decisions I have made in my lifetime," Turk said. "The program has enabled me to do what I want and reach for heights that I never thought were possible. The coaching staff, my teammates, the fans, the athletic administration and the academic institution of Drake University is second to none and I honestly believe that I would not be where I am today without the wonderful support of everyone at Drake. I truly am a lucky person that made a very good decision to come to Drake."