March 4, 2003

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Missouri senior guard Kerensa Barr (West Plains, Mo. / West Plains HS) has been named as one of 10 women's semifinalists for the Creamland Dairies Men's & Women's Collegiate Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year award, as announced Monday by the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau.

It is the second national athletic/academic honor this season for Barr, who was named in December as one of eight finalists - and the only women's basketball player in the country - for the fourth annual Socrates Award, which went to Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel last month.

Prior to the start of the season, every NCAA Division I school had the opportunity to nominate its men and women student-athletes for this award that recognizes student-athletes for their athletic and academic achievement as well as community involvement.

Barr is currently second in Missouri history in both assists and steals, and is just nine assists from breaking the all-time school record of 470 set by Amy Fordham from 1991-94. In addition, Barr is on pace to finish as the Tigers' most accurate free-throw shooter in program history, and is currently second on the squad with her 11.7 points per game average. She was named to the 2001-02 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-America? Third Team, and was named a Second Team Academic All-District honoree last month.

The following are the 10 men and 10 women semi-finalists for the Creamland Dairies Men's & Women's Collegiate Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year:

Women
Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt
Kerensa Barr, Missouri
Allison Curtin, Tulsa
Katie Day, Columbia
Tiffany Kyser, IUPUI
Kara Lawson, Tennessee
Loree Payne, Washington
Alicia Ratay, Notre Dame
Anne Tierney, Lehigh
LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State


Men
Matt Bonner, Florida
Ruben Douglas, New Mexico
Erwin Dudley, Alabama
Brian Dux, Canisius
Marcus Hatten, St. John's
Brandon Hunter, Ohio
James Jones, Miami
Jason Kapono, UCLA
Omar-Seli Mance, Rice
Leonard Stokes, Cincinnati

Three finalists will be named during the NCAA basketball tournaments and will be present in Albuquerque on April 9, 2003, at the awards banquet to be held at the Albuquerque Marriott Hotel. ESPN college basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes will emcee the events.

Barr will play the final regular-season game of her career on Wednesday against Texas A&M at the Hearnes Center. She will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony for her career accomplishments.