RICHARDSON, TEXAS ----- Hardin-Simmons University junior post player Kendra Anderson (Colorado City, Texas/Colorado City HS) tops the list of 2002 American Southwest Conference women's basketball award winners selected by the conference coaches.

Anderson, the leading vote recipient in all-conference voting, earned All-Conference honors for a second straight season after leading Hardin-Simmons to the West Division and ASC Tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship. Anderson was also named West Division Player of the Year and First-Team All-West Division for a second time. She averaged 16 points and 10.5 rebounds vs. the league.

Joining Anderson on the All-American Southwest Conference team are Tanasha Ellis (Crockett, Texas/Crockett HS) of East Texas Baptist University; Chastidy Sandifer (Crystal Springs, Miss./Hazlehurst HS) of Mississippi College; Nicole Harlman (Comanche, Texas/Comanche HS) of McMurry University; and Crystal Perriraz (Corpus Christi, Texas/Corpus Christi HS) of Howard Payne University.

A first-time member of the First-Team All-East Division squad, Ellis averaged 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in conference play. The junior post player led East Texas Baptist to the East Division co-championship. Named East Division Player of the Year, Sandifer finished the season with a league-high 19.3 scoring average vs. the ASC. The senior forward is also a member of the First-Team All-East Division team.

Listed on the All-West Division First-Team, senior post player Harlman led conference rebounders (12.0 rpg) and finished among the top 10 league scorers (15.1 ppg). Perriraz, First-Team All-West Division, led Howard Payne to a second-place finish in the West Division, averaging 12.9 points in conference action.

In addition to Player of the Year, several other individual Division award recipients were also named. Louisiana College senior guard Misti Bryant (Anacoco, La.) was named East Division Defensive Player of the Year while Jessica Wurzbach (San Antonio, Texas), freshman center from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, was voted West Division Defensive Player of the Year. Louisiana College first-year post Kristi Gallien (Dry Creek, La.) was selected East Division Freshman of the Year, and Mary Hardin-Baylor forward Jennifer Gilchreist (Cypress, Texas) was West Division Freshman of the Year.

Louisiana College head coach Tonya Sanders McIntosh was chosen East Division Coach of the Year. Julie Goodenough, head coach at Hardin-Simmons, was selected West Division Coach of the Year.

All-American Southwest Conference

American Southwest Conference EAST DIVISION Teams

First-Team All-East Division

Second-Team All-East Division

Honorable Mention All-East Division

East Division Player of the Year
Chastidy Sandifer (F, Sr., Mississippi College)

East Division Freshman of the Year
Kristi Gallien (P, Fr., Louisiana College)

East Division Defensive Player of the Year
Misti Bryant (G, Sr., Louisiana College)

East Division Coach of the Year
Tonya Sanders McIntosh (Louisiana College)

American Southwest Conference WEST DIVISION Teams

First-Team All-West Division

Second-Team All-West Division

Honorable Mention All-West Division

West Division Player of the Year
Kendra Anderson (P, Jr., Hardin-Simmons University)

West Division Defensive Player of the Year
Jessica Wurzbach (C, Fr., University of Mary Hardin-Baylor)

West Division Freshman of the Year
Jennifer Gilchreist (F, Fr., University of Mary Hardin-Baylor)

West Division Coach of the Year
Julie Goodenough (Hardin-Simmons University)