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 Yoneko Allen, along with teammate Christy Blackwell, was named an Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholar - the second consecutive such honor for Allen |
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April 15, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - The eleventh annual Arthur Ashe, Jr., Spots Scholars Awards were announced this April, and Western Carolina's Yoneko Allen and Christy Blackwell were first team selections for women's basketball. This is the second straight year Allen has received this honor, also named to the first team as a sophomore.
"We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of Yoneko and Christy both on the court and in the classroom," said head coach Beth Dunkenberger. "Not only have they led our team to its most successful season ever, they're also two of the top students in the country. We applaud their achievements and look forward to a banner senior year from both of them."
The Sports Scholar Award was established in the late Arthur Ashe, Jr.'s name by Black Issues In Higher Education to honor undergraduate students of color who excel in academics, athletics and service to the community, standards set by Ashe, who died in 1993. Award winners must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.2 or higher and be active on their campus and in the community.
Allen, a junior from Gray Court, S.C., boasts a 3.98 cumulative grade point average as a triple major in Sport Management, Marketing and Business Administration and Law. A repeat first team member, she has been a true leader for her teammates on and off the court. As a team captain this season, Allen finished as the Cats' second leading scorer with 11.8 ppg. She finished the season as the league leader in 3-point field goals with 67, which ties the WCU single-season record, to average 2.39 per contest, which also ties the school's single-season record. Allen additionally finished 13th in the SoCon for 3-point FG percentage at 35.8 percent, 12th in scoring and ninth in free throw percentage at 78.4 percent, as she moved herself up in the WCU record books in several categories. Academically, Allen was named a SoCon TIAA-CREF Student-Athlete of the Week back in December as well as the Arby's/Catamount Student-Athlete of the Month for December. She was also named a Verizon Academic All-District III team member for the second consecutive year.
"First, I just want to thank God for this talent He's given me," said Allen. "This is a great accomplishment, especially to receive the honor two years in a row. Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as Arthur Ashe is incredible. I think this award truly defines the term 'student-athlete'."
 Junior Christy Blackwell was named an Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholar first team member for her 3.90 GPA, among other great accomplishments |
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Blackwell, a junior from Laurens, S.C., carries a 3.90 cumulative GPA in Business Administration and Law. She made her comeback year a stellar one, dishing out 79 assists on the season to give her 278 for her career, which ranks fifth on WCU's career list. She also grabbed 46 steals this year to give her 206 total and put her in sixth place for career takeaways. Blackwell finished the season ranked 14th in the league in steals per game at 1.64 and tied for 10th in assists, handing out 2.82 per contest.
"I've always valued my education," said Blackwell. "I credit my mom for instilling those values in me early on. Sometimes things get stressful, but I just think about my future and the future I want for me and my son and that keeps me positive and focused."
Both Allen and Blackwell have been on the Dean's List, the SoCon Honor Roll, Athletic Director's 3.0 Academic Award winners and TIAA-CREF Academic All-Conference team members. They are also actively involved on campus and in the community. Allen has been a member of the WCU Student Athlete Advisory Council and both have participated with their teammates in preparing and serving food at the Community Table of Sylva, volunteered as basketball coaches during summer camps, as well as other basketball clinics and tutoring local elementary students.
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