April 1, 2002

COTTRELL EARNS NATIONAL HONOR

NKU senior named Division II Bulletin’s National Player of the Year

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Northern Kentucky University’s Michelle Cottrell has been named Division II Bulletin’s National Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Cottrell, who also earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year honors for the third straight season, battled back from a stress fracture that sidelined her for six games and led NKU to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. She averaged 19.7 points and shot 62 percent from the field for the Norse, who posted a 26-7 record. A graduate of Boone County High School, Cottrell finished her career as NKU’s all-time scoring leader with 2,241 points. “There were so many strong candidates for this award, it was one of the most difficult years in deciding on a player of the year,” Division II Bulletin Editor Gary Rubin said. “Michelle showed why she is an All-American and led her team to a terrific season. She is most deserving of this award.” Other finalists for the Player of the Year award were Lauri McIntosh of national champion Cal Poly Pomona, Wanda Maynard-Morris of Pace, Amber Kongolo of North Carolina Central and Mars Hill’s Denise Shelton. Cottrell, a three-time Kodak NCAA Division II All-American, ended her career with 48 double-doubles. She was named the most valuable player of this season’s NCAA II Great Lakes Regional at Evansville, Ind., where NKU stunned top-seeded University of Southern Indiana, 69-66, in the championship game to earn a berth in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Cottrell scored 23 of her 31 points in the second half of that game to power NKU past Southern Indiana. “Michelle is a once-in-a-lifetime player, and we have been very fortunate to have her in our program the last four years,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “She helped elevate our program to another level, and the numbers she posted are awesome.” During her career, Cottrell led NKU to four straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. She also helped the Norse advance to the Elite Eight three times, and Cottrell led NKU to the 2000 NCAA Division II national championship. In the championship game against North Dakota State in 2000, Cottrell scored 23 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to lead the Norse to a 71-62 overtime victory. That marked NKU’s first-ever national championship.