July 4, 2005 -- Falcons' Kroon Receives Honda Inspiration Award

SEATTLE (Mar. 7) ­ Seattle Pacific University's Brittney Kroon, the blocked shots leader for NCAA Division II, has been chosen as a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award for the third year in a row. The award is presented in partnership with ESPN and the recipient will be announced during ESPN's basketball Final Four weekend coverage.

While in high school, Kroon (Sr., 6-4, Wasilla, Ak.) was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis (where the body's immune system attacks its own liver). Her name was on the national liver recipient list. Following her senior season, in March of 2002, a donor was again identified and Kroon underwent successful transplant surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center.

Today, Kroon fulfills a key role for a Seattle Pacific team (24-5) which meets Chico State in the championship game of the West Regional tournament Monday night in Bellingham. It's the third straight regional title game for the Falcons.

Kroon leads the NCAA and Great Northwest Athletic Conference with an average of 4.3 blocks per game and is No. 4 in NCAA career rejections. She holds every GNAC and SPU record for blocks in a game, season and career. This season Kroon is also averaging 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds.

The Comeback Award, now in its sixth year, is given annually to a college basketball student-athlete who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma. It is presented by The V Foundation and ESPN in honor of late basketball coach Jim Valvano, whose battle with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation.

In his memorable speech at ESPN's inaugural ESPY Awards announcing the creation of The V Foundation, Valvano's "Don't Give Up. . .Don't Ever Give Up!"® motto created a legacy from which the Comeback Award has been created.

More than 50 student-athletes were nominated for the award. The other X finalists are Grant Dykstra, Western Washington University; Tammy Frazier, Cheyney University; Tiffanie Hager, Rio Grande (Oh.); Leon Powe, California ; and Jamie Vick, Saint Vincent College (Pa).