Enquirer news services

Former Northern Kentucky University basketball player Michelle Cottrell has been selected as a recipient of the NCAA Today's Top VIII Award.

The award is given to distinguished student-athletes from the 2002 calendar year, who will be recognized for their academic and athletics achievement, character and leadership at the NCAA Honors Dinner on Jan. 12 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.

Cottrell, a graduate of Boone County High School, finished her career as NKU's all-time scoring leader with 2,241 points. She was named an NCAA Division II All-American three times, and she earned Division II Bulletin National Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior.

She finished her career with 48 double-doubles, and NKU advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight three times during her career and won the 2000 national championship.

Cottrell also was named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV Team as a junior and senior, and she was a four-time member of the GLVC All-Academic Team.

Cottrell is the second NKU student-athlete to receive the NCAA Today's Top VIII Award. The other was men's basketball player Kevin Listerman in 2001.