Nov. 4, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Two MWC women's basketball student-athletes, New Mexico's Amy Beggin and San Diego State's Jené Morris, were selected as two of just 30 nominees for the 2009-10 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for NCAA Division I women's basketball. The annual honor is given to senior student-athletes who excel both on and off the court and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom, character, community and competition.

Beggin, a two-time all-MWC selection, is 11th all-time in scoring at New Mexico with 1,063 career points. The guard was named to the 2009-10 MWC Preseason all-Conference team after leading the Lobos in points (15.4) and assists (3.8) last season. She has led New Mexico to the postseason each of the last three years.

Morris was an honorable mention All-American a year ago, averaging 16.1 points and 3.3 steals per game in leading the Aztecs to the program's first NCAA tournament bid in 12 years and a share of the regular-season conference title. So far this year, Morris has been named a candidate for both national player-of-the-year awards, the Wade Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award, and was tabbed the Mountain West Conference Preseason Player of the Year.

The list of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which enters its ninth year, will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season. The winner will then be selected by a vote of media, coaches and fans.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

-mwc-