DURHAM, N.C.— After being selected the Honda Sport Award for Golf winner recently, Duke University rising sophomore Virginia Elena Carta traveled to Los Angeles, Calif., this week for the Collegiate Women Sports Awards show that was aired live on CBS Sports Network Monday evening at the USC Founders Club at the Galen Center.

The CWSA, celebrating its 40th year, has honored the nation's top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.0 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women's athletics programs at the institutions.

Carta is coming off claiming the NCAA Individual Championship in record fashion with a 16-under-par, 272, on her way to winning by a NCAA-record eight strokes in May.  Her 16-under-par and 72-hole total of 272 were both NCAA records as well.  On the year, Carta totaled a 72.41 stroke average, which is the fifth-best in school history by a freshman.  A product of Udine, Italy, Carta registered 13 rounds of even or under par to rank tied seventh on the Duke freshman record charts.  She finished the season ranked ninth in the Golfweek listing.  

As a team, Duke is coming off a semifinal finish at the NCAA Championship for the second straight year.  The Blue Devils knocked off third-seeded Southern California, 4-1, in the quarterfinals before falling to second-seeded Stanford, 3-2.

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