Louisiana Tech senior Cheryl Ford was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. It was announced that she was one of the 10 finalists for the 2002-03 season. The award is presented to the outstanding male and female senior NCAA Division I basketball player.
The list of womens finalists include Chantelle Anderson and Ashley McElhiney of Vanderbilt, Coretta Brown of North Carolina, Courtney Coleman of Ohio State, Cheryl Ford of Louisiana Tech, Gwen Jackson and Kara Lawson of Tennessee, Jocelyn Penn of South Carolina, Plenette Pierson of Texas Tech, and LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State.
The 6-foot-3-inch Ford has led 10th ranked Louisiana Tech to a 21-2 record, including a perfect 13-0 mark in the Western Athletic Conference standings. Ford has averaged 14.0 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while recording 15 double doubles this season. The Summerfield, La., native ranks third nationally in rebounding average and is on pace to shatter the WAC's single season rebounding record.
The names of the finalists will appear on the official ballot during the national voting process that begins for fans across the country on Monday, Feb. 17, 2003. The selection of the second annual men's and women's award winner will be based on the cumulative ballots of three entities: the national media committee, Division I college basketball coaches and nationwide fan balloting via the award's official web site, www.seniorclassaward.com.
The Senior CLASS Award - an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School - was launched prior to the 2001-02 college basketball season. The initial idea came from CBS sportscaster Dick Enberg, who now serves as Honorary Chairman of the award. It became reality when the Kansas City Club agreed to present the award and serve as host organization for the culminating event last year.
The winners of the inaugural award were Juan Dixon of Maryland and Sue Bird of Connecticut. Both first-year recipients led their respective team to the national championship. Shane Battier, who inspired the inception of the award by his compelling senior season at Duke, received an Honorary Senior CLASS Award.
The ten finalists for the second annual award were selected by a national committee of sportswriters and sportscasters who cover Division I college basketball. These players were chosen, based on performance during the current season, from a list of 30 Players to Watch for both men and women.