Nov. 3, 2010

2010-11 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Candidates

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford women's basketball seniors Kayla Pedersen and Jeanette Pohlen were named to the 30-player list of preseason candidates for the 2010-11 Women's Basketball Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Wednesday.

The addition of Pedersen and Pohlen to the list makes Stanford one of just two schools to have more than one candidate. Xavier was the other, with Amber Harris and Ta'Shia Phillips named to the list.

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.

The well-decorated duo of Pedersen and Pohlen has been a focal point of Stanford's three consecutive Final Four teams heading into 2010-11. This year the duo, along with fellow true seniors Ashley Cimino and Hannah Donaghe, will look to not only bring home Stanford's third national championship but also reach its fourth consecutive Final Four, a feat no four-year Cardinal class has ever accomplished.

Pedersen, a three-time All-Pac-10 Team selection and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2007-08, enters her senior season as one of the most versatile players in the nation. Able to play four positions on the court, the Fountain Hills, Ariz. native finished last season among the Pac-10 leaders with 15.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, a 45.9 field-goal percentage and 55 three-pointers.

After three years on The Farm, Pedersen has muscled her way into position to finish her senior season among the program's all-time greats in many career statistical categories. Entering the 2010-11 season, Pedersen already boasts career totals of 1.501 points, 986 rebounds, 115 games both played and started, and 3,598 minutes played. Her rebounding, games played and started and minutes played totals are all on-pace to set new Stanford benchmarks by the end of her senior year.

Pohlen, the anchor of Stanford's back court, earned her second All-Pac-10 Team selection last season after averaging 9.3 points and 4.51 assists per game with 71 three-pointers made. Shuttling between the point and shooting guard positions, Pohlen has been an ever-reliable fixture in the Cardinal lineup, leading the team's guards in both assists and scoring each of the past two seasons.

She burst onto the national stage last season during the Sacramento Regional Final against Xavier, dashing the length of the court in 4.4 seconds and finishing with a driving lay-up as time expired that gave Stanford a 55-53 victory and trip to the Final Four.

A communication major, Pohlen earned Pac-10 All-Academic recognition in 2008-09.

The duo will attempt to earn Stanford's second Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in four years, after Candice Wiggins took home the honor following the 2007-08 season.

The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, with those names placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to the media, coaches and fans, who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

Stanford opens the 2010-11 season Sunday, Nov. 14 at Maples Pavilion, hosting Rutgers in a 2 p.m. clash.