Basketball star Candace Parker of Tennessee was named the winner of the Honda-Broderick Cup at a press conference Monday at the Columbia University in New York.

Minnesota-Duluth volleyball student-athlete Vicky Braegelmann and Willamette cross country runner Sarah Zerzan also were selected as athletes of the year in Divisions II and III.

Parker averaged 21.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.4 blocks and 2.3 steals in 38 games this season while leading her team to a 36-2 record and the program’s second consecutive Division I Women’s Basketball Championship and eighth overall.

“I have been blessed to be recognized as an individual but know that I couldn’t have gotten where I am today without the help of my family, friends, teammates and coaches,” Parker said. “My experience at the University of Tennessee prepared me for life as a professional basketball player and as a strong, independent woman. Coach Summitt always says if you surround yourself with great people and players, you are destined for great things. Winning this award and two national championships at Tennessee are, to me, great things.”

Parker, who had one year of eligibility remaining (she was a medical redshirt as a freshman), graduated in May with a degree in sport management. In April, she was the No. 1 overall pick in the Women’s National Basketball Association draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.

Braegelmann is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year who helped lead Minnesota Duluth to four straight North Central Conference championships, four Division II playoff appearances, two Elite Eight berths, 54 consecutive top-10 rankings in the AVCA weekly poll, and a 114-16 overall record – including a 45-8 mark in NCC play – during her four seasons.

“After being nominated for this award last year, it really feels great to win it,” said Braegelemann. “It’s actually more of a reflection on my teammates and my coach, Jim Boos, however. Without all their incredible support, I never would have been able to get this far.”

She will graduate from Minnesota Duluth this fall.

Zerzan won back-to-back NCAA Division III individual national championships in cross country in 2006 and 2007. She became only the third athlete to repeat as the women’s champion in the 27-year history of the Division championships. In 2007, she was undefeated against all collegiate cross country opponents. In track and field, she placed second in the 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Division III championships in 2007.

“Without the efforts of coaches and professors I would never have been able to achieve success athletically or academically,” she said. “My achievements would have been equally impossible without the support of family and friends. I am honored and humbled by the award.”

She graduated from Willamette this spring with a degree in biochemistry.

The Honda-Broderick Cup is part of the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards program, which is in its 32nd year and recognizes the top collegiate woman athlete in each of 12 NCAA sports. In addition, the program honors the top women collegiate athletes representing Division II and Division III schools and the recipient of the Honda Inspiration Award. The Award winners in the 12 sports were automatically nominated for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.

The honor is based on the results of national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards program for each sport. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., sponsor of the program, celebrates each nominee by donating $5,000 to each Honda Sports Award recipient school and $1,000 to each nominee school.