Vol. 19, No. 32

May 25, 2000

Outstanding scholar-athletes honored at sports banquets

Record-setting softball pitcher Kristi O'Connell was named the Alumni Association Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year at the women's intercollegiate athletics awards banquet May 17, and record-setting basketball forward Mike Pegues was named 1999-2000 UD Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year at the annual men's intercollegiate athletics award luncheon May 16, A total of 22 Blue Hen male student-athletes were honored for their accomplishments, and 15 Blue Hen women athletes were honored. Kristi O'Connell From Elmsford, N.Y., nursing major, O'Connell has led the Blue Hens softball team to a combined record of 118-70 and four trips to the America East Tournament, finishing second in 1998. The team finished second in the America East regular season standings three times and set a school record for wins of 36-14 in 2000 and 18-6 in league play. O'Connell holds every pitching record for softball in UD history. She appeared in 117 games, pitching 669.2 innings, posting an overall record of 58-43 and striking out 555 batters. Other records include her career marks of complete 78 games, eight saves and six no-hitters. Her season records include 46.1 consecutive innings without an earned run, 177 strikeouts in 1999, 24 complete games in 1998 and three no-hitters. A tri-captain, O'Connell earned first team All-America East honors in 1998 and 2000 and was a second team All-America East selection in 1999. She also was named to the All-Mid Atlantic Region first team this spring Mike Pegues From Forestville, Md., Pegues excelled both on the court and in the classroom. He led the Blue Hens to America East titles and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999. In 2000, he guided the team to the America East runner-up position and school's first ever appearance in the NIT Tournament. The only three-time, first team all-conference performer in UD history, a two-time All-District selection and the 1998 America East Player of the Year, Pegues set numerous records, including scoring a UD record of 2,030 points, which ranks fifth on the America East conference charts. He broke another school record by scoring 20 or more points in a game 43 times and scored 30 or more points in 12 games. As a senior, he led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists and ranked among the top 20 nationally in scoring each of his final two seasons. His other records included games played in a career (123), career field goals (751) and career free throws (507). A senior communication major with a 3.2 grade point average, Pegues was named co-winner of the Alexander J. Taylor Award for outstanding senior man. He also was named the scholar-athlete of the year for men's basketball in 1998 and to the College Sports Information Directors of America National Academic All-American Third Team.