The Bronco, Yearbook of Hardin-Simmons University, 2003 Page: 56
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2002-03 HSU ATHLETICS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Anderson Becomes HSU's First Player of the Year
Unparalleled.
That is the only word that can describe Hardin-Simmons senior basketball player Kendra Anderson's
season and career.
Anderson has been nothing short of spectacular and her play has earned her almost every award possible
for a Division III Women's Basketball player. The 5-9 forward from Colorado City dominated her opponents
for the better part of four years. She was a three-year starter for the Cowgirls and was named the
American Southwest Conference West Division Player of the Year the past three seasons.
As a senior she averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds per game and came within 19 points of becoming
the school's all-time leading scorer. She finished her career second in HSU history with 1,759 points and
955 rebounds. She holds the HSU career record for field goals (694), field goals attempted (1292), is fourth in
field-goal percentage (.537), second in free throws made (368), second in free throws attempted (568), eighth
(191) in assists, seventh in blocks (33) and fourth in steals (244).
What makes it even more special is she is a two-time academic All-American to go along with her twotime
first-team All-American selections. She was three times named first-team All-South region, All-American
Southwest Conference, All-American Southwest Conference West Division and three-time academic All-ASC.
"All of the awards I get are because I played on a great team," said Anderson. "We had several other
great players and we worked hard together. They deserve it as much as I do."
Her crowning achievement came last week when she was named the State Farm/Women's Basketball
Coaches Association National Player of the Year. With the award goes an invitation to the WBCA All-Star
Classic that will be held April 4 at the Division I Women's Final Four. She will be matched up against 17
Division All-Stars, along with the player of the year in Division II and NAIA.
"It's a dream come true for me. To see how I stack up against some of the best women's basketball
players in America. I'm sure it will be an experience I will never forget."
Anderson was the glue for the Cowgirls, who featured five seniors. She helped get them through a
coaching change after her junior season, that saw Julie Goodenough move on as the head coach at Oklahoma
State.
"It was a tough time for us," said Anderson. "We were kind of stunned at first, but I would have been
mad at her if she had not taken that opportunity. There are only 12 coaches in the toughest women's basketball
league in the country and you can't turn that down."
Anderson helped keep the players driven after the season
last year until new coach Shanna Briggs was in place.
"It was all part of keeping a pact," said Anderson. "When
we (the five seniors) came here as a freshman we came here and
said we would finish here. We made that pact to ourselves and we
did that. It is a great tribute to the other four. It is not to say there
were not tough times, but we stuck together and we are one of the
top teams if not the best team ever to play at Hardin-Simmons."
HSU went an amazing 102-11 in Anderson's four years with
the Cowgirls. She started the last 86 games of her career, 'including
the final three of her freshman year. She helped lead the Cowgirls to
four straight American Southwest Conference Tournament titles and
was named the MVP of all four tournaments.
The Cowgirls also advanced to at least the Sweet 16 of the
NCAA Tournament each of the last four years and went to the
Elite Eight in 2000. Anderson averaged 23.4 points and 8.256
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Hardin-Simmons University. The Bronco, Yearbook of Hardin-Simmons University, 2003, yearbook, 2003; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38563/m1/58/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.