May 29, 2001
TUCSON, Ariz.- Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player Jennie Finch added to her long list of postseason accolades Tuesday afternoon, when it was announced that she was the recipient of the Honda Sports Award for softball. The honor automatically nominates the junior for the Honda-Broderick Cup to be presented to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
Finch, who shutout UCLA 1-0 in the national title game on Monday, is the first Arizona starting pitcher to complete a season undefeated on the mound. The LaMirada, Calif., native finished the season with a perfect 32-0 record and a 0.54 ERA . Additionally, she hit .313 with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs for the national champion Wildcats.
The Honda Awards program has just completed its 24th year and recognizes the top women collegiate athlete in each of 12 sports. The Honda Award winners in the 12 sports are candidates for the Collegiate Woman of the Year to receive the Honda-Broderick Cup at a banquet on June 11, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Including this season, a total of eight Arizona players have been named as a finalist for the softball award 10 times since 1993. Finch joins former Wildcats Nancy Evans (1998), Jenny Daulton (1996) and Susie Parra (1994) as award winners.
2000-2001 Honda Award Winners
Athlete Sport School
Jan Adams Lacrosse Maryland
Mohini Bhardwai Gymnastics UCLA
Greichaly Cepero Volleyball Nebraska
Marina Digiacomo Field Hockey Old Dominion
Jennie Finch Softball Arizona
Meredith Florance Soccer North Carolina
Laura Granville Tennis Stanford
Kara Grgas-Wheeler Cross Country Colorado
Candy Hannemann Golf Duke
Misty Hyman Swimming Stanford
Jackie Stiles Basketball Southwest Missouri State
Brenda Taylor Track and Field Harvard
