Aug. 6, 2002

RICHARDSON, Texas - Hardin-Simmons University junior Kendra Anderson was named ASC Female Athlete of the Year after leading the Cowgirls to the NCAA Tournament for the third time.

The American Southwest Conference Female Athlete of the Year award recognizes the female student-athlete whose athletic accomplishments have contributed to their sport, their institution's overall athletic program and the conference. Each ASC member institution nominates an individual for the Athlete of the Year awards with the league's 15 sports information directors and select media voting for the recipients. This is the third year the ASC Athlete of the Year awards have been presented.

Named for a second time as ASC West Division Player of the Year, Hardin-Simmons' Kendra Anderson was runner-up for the 2002 NCAA Division III National Player of the Year Jostens Trophy. The 5-9 junior forward led the Cowgirls to a 26-2 record, a spot in the NCAA-III Championship Sweet 16, and their fifth straight ASC West and fourth consecutive ASC Tournament titles. Anderson became the first conference women's basketball player named All-America First-Team by four different groups, earning national honors from Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Women's D-III News, D3hoops.com and GB-Ball.com.

Selected the Most Valuable Player of the ASC Tournament for a third straight season, Anderson earned All-ASC and All-ASC West First-Team honors. She finished the 2001-02 season averaging 16.9 points and 9.8 rebounds over 28 games, ranking among the conference's top five in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. An education major, Anderson was named Verizon Academic All-District VI Women's Basketball First-Team and ASC All-Academic.