Fresno State Athletics
Alexander, Scott Win Prestigious Joe Kearney Award
 |  Amanda Scott was the recipient of the Joe Kearney Award as the top female athlete in the Western Athletic Conference. |
July 26, 2000
DENVER - Fresno State senior guard Courtney Alexander and senior pitcher Amanda Scott have been named the recipients of the 1999-2000 Joe Kearney Awards for the Western Athletic Conference. Named in honor of former WAC commissioner Joe Kearney, the awards are given annually to the top male and female WAC athlete. The male award winner is selected by the WAC athletics directors, and the female honoree is chosen by the WAC senior woman administrators.
Alexander, a native of Durham, N.C., was the 2000 WAC Player of the Year and was recognized as a second-team All-American by the Associated Press. He was also a finalist for the Wooden Award. Alexander led the country in scoring with 24.8 points per game, becoming the first WAC player to ever lead the nation in that category. In WAC games only, he averaged 27.2 points per contest.
During the 1999-2000 season, Alexander also was sixth in the conference in three-point field goals made per game (2.15) and seventh in free throw percentage (.781). He also averaged 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He twice earned WAC Player of the Week honors and twice scored 40 or more points in a game. In June, he was drafted 13th overall in the NBA draft by the Orlando Magic.
Alexander finished his career with a 22.6 scoring average, breaking the school's 28-year old record. He scored 20 or more points in 39 of 60 career games at Fresno State and double figures in all 60 games, a school record.
"Courtney was the best scorer in the nation last year and one of the best I have ever coached," said FS head coach Jerry Tarkanian. "He worked so hard to make himself a better player. By returning for his senior season, he made a commitment to Fresno State basketball. Courtney showed the WAC and the nation what a great player he is. He is going to be remembered as one of the greatest players in Fresno State and WAC history."
Scott, of Clovis, Calif., adds her second Kearney Award to a long list of accomplishments in softball. The 1998 Kearney Award recipient was 33-5 with a 0.41 ERA and 314 strikeouts in 2000. She set numerous Fresno State single-season records including: strikeouts (314), consecutive wins (19), shutouts (27), consecutive games with an earned run (21), consecutive innings without an earned run (129.2) and consecutive no-hitters (2). She also excelled in the classroom as she was a GTE Academic All-American
Scott finished her pitching career as the WAC's all-time leader in wins (106), saves (10), ERA (0.55) and strikeouts (851). She also is the WAC's all-time leader in RBIs (212) and games played (277). She was a four-time first-team All-American, three-time WAC Pitcher of the Year and was the MVP of the College World Series in 1998 when Fresno State won the national championship.
"During her career, Amanda has always been one of the top softball athetes in the country," said head coach Margie Wright. "She is one of the most gifted athletes that I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. Amanda had an inner desire and drive to better herself in everything she tried to do. She has the whole package as an individual, student and athlete."
For the men, additional 1999-2000 Kearney Award nominees included Dan Robinson (football), Hawaii, Kenny Baugh (baseball), Rice, Junior Ruiz (baseball), San Jose State, Libor Charfreitag (track and field), SMU, LaDainian Tomlinson (football), TCU, Brian Young (football), UTEP, and Eric Coley (basketball), Tulsa.
Other female nominees included Heather Bown (volleyball), Hawaii, Shaquandra Roberson (track and field), Rice, Joslynn Gallop (volleyball), San Jose State, Karlin Kennedy (basketball), SMU, Angela Stanford (golf), TCU, Saidat Onanuga (track and field), UTEP, and Stacy Prammanasudh (golf), Tulsa.
Previous Kearney Award winners
Year Men, School (Sport) Women, School (Sport)1998-99 Andre Miller, Utah (Basketball) Martina Moravcova, SMU (Swimming)1997-98 Lars Frolander, SMU (Swimming) Amanda Scott, Fresno State (Softball)1996-97 Keith Van Horn, Utah (Basketball) Martina Moravcova, SMU (Swimming)1995-96 Keith Van Horn, Utah (Basketball) Nina Lindenberg, Fresno State (Softball)1994-95 Stoney Case, New Mexico (Football) Suzanne Metz, Utah (Gymnastics)1993-94 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State (Football) Amy Van Dyken, Colorado State (Swimming)1992-93 Marshall Faulk, San Diego State (Football) Mikki Kane-Barton, Utah (Basketball/Volleyball)1991-92 Carlton McDonald, Air Force (Football) Anu Kalijurand, Brigham Young (Basketball)