Mendoza and Murphy nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year
7/15/2023 11:59:00 PM | General, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf
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Recent graduates Gillian Mendoza and Kaylee Murphy have been named UC Santa Cruz's nominees for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The duo both majored in Human Biology and are planning to attend Medical School.
One of UC Santa Cruz's most decorated golfers ever, Mendoza is three-time First Team All-Conference selection, and also a four-time WGCA Academic All-American. She is the first Banana Slug in any sport to earn Academic All-American honors all four years. Mendoza set school records in both career and season scoring average as well as shooting the most under-par rounds in a career. She was a Physical Therapy Intern in Santa Cruz, an Athletic Training intern with the UC Santa Cruz Sports Medicine office, and awarded the Slug of the Year Award from the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
"I cannot think of anyone in my 20-year coaching career who deserves the NCAA Woman of the Year award more than Gillian Mendoza," said Head Coach Paulette Pera. "She has broken almost every golf school record in our history and has been an Academic All-American all of her four years. She has been my right-hand person as my Team Captain, super efficient and caring to all."
Mendoza with Head Athletic Trainer Stephanie Raudenbush
A four-year starter in Basketball, Murphy also graduated as one of the most outstanding Banana Slug players ever in her sport. She is a two-time WBCA Honorable Mention All-American, the program's first-ever All-American.Â
Murphy finished as the school career leader in both rebounds and assists, was second all-time in blocks and fourth all-time in points. She's the only person ever at UC Santa Cruz- Male or Female- to score 1,000 points and collect 1,000 rebounds, averaging a double-double in her career.
"Our program is very proud of Kaylee for being nominated as Women of the Year," said Head Coach Todd Kent. "She has done a tremendous amount of work off the court for our community, and this nomination is well earned."
Murphy was also a Student Athletic Training Intern, in addition to numerous volunteer positions in Santa Cruz and a Medical Preceptorship in her hometown of Eureka shadowing a surgeon.
The Woman of the Year award, created in 1991, recognizes graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in athletics, academics, leadership and community service. Karenna Groff from MIT won the award last year. 619 student-athletes were nominated in 2023, which will be trimmed to 30 finalists -three from each Division- in October. 227 of this year's nominees hail from Division III Institutions.
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