Hansen Earns GNAC Sportsmanship Award

SPOKANE, Wash. – Montana State Billings women’s basketball player, Rachel Hansen, and Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball player, Brandon Walker, have been selected the winners of the seventh annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference NCAA Sportsmanship Award, the conference office announced Wednesday. 

Hansen and Walker now are finalists for the 2010 NCAA National Sportsmanship Award, which honors one male and one female athlete (or team) from each of the three NCAA divisions who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

Those awards will be announced later this summer.  Former MSUB men’s basketball standout, Travis Bunker, earned the conference male sportsmanship award last year.

Hansen spearheaded the “Threes for Susan” fundraiser that helped raise money to pay for medical costs incurred by local resident Susan Costello in her battle with breast cancer.  Hansen sought out donations from local businesses and MSUB fans for every three-pointer made during the 2009-10 non-conference schedule.  A total of $3500 was raised in the fundraiser which coincided with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association “Pink Zone” program.

A native of Lolo, Mont., and a fifth-year senior, Hansen demonstrated sportsmanship and ethical behavior throughout her MSUB career as she participated in intercollegiate athletics and maintained a 3.47 GPA.  She also was a two-time GNAC Academic all-conference selection.

She majored in biology and served on MSUB’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee for three years and was a co-captain on the women’s basketball team last year.

“During her career, she exemplified the values of respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility by taking time out of her busy schedule to volunteer in the community as an elementary school reading tutor, volunteer basketball coach and volunteer at a local hospital’s pediatric clinic,” MSUB women’s basketball coach Kevin Woodin said.”