Morgan Spearman, a senior outfielder from Angelo State University, was named the 2014 DII Woman of the Year nominee for softball as announced by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

She is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Woman Athlete of the Year honor. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 38th year.

Spearman was a first-team All-American selection by the NFCA while also being named to the second-team on the Daktronics All-America team. The senior from Kennedale, Texas, was the LSC Player of the Year and scored 80 runs this season setting the ASU and LSC single season record. Her runs scored were the fifth most runs scored in a single season in NCAA Division II history.

Her .506 average for the season was second nationally and broke the ASU single season record. She also hit 19 doubles and 10 home runs while drawing 47 walks and grabbing 27 stolen bases. Spearman is the NCAA Division II leader in on-base percentage at .622 which is also an ASU single season record. She was also named to the Capital One Academic All-America third team.

"It is an honor to be named a nominee for the DII Woman of the Year Award and I am very excited to be representing my school and team in this manner, “ stated Spearman. “I could not have done this without the help of my two coaches Travis and Katie Scott. By receiving the nomination for the award it makes all the hard work over the years well worth it. I couldn’t be more proud of my career and the opportunity to represent Angelo State."

"What an honor to represent your sport for the Honda Award,” said head coach Travis Scott. “Morgan is the perfect example of a student-athlete being the best they can on and off the field. She has represented Angelo State with nothing but class and will do the same as a Woman of the Year nominee.,“

All sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2014 CWSA Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in June. The sports nominees are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 37 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $2.8 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.