INDIANAPOLIS – Texas A&M University-Commerce student-athletes Vicky Back and Ashley Bassett have been announced as nominees for the NCAA's Woman of the Year Award, as announced Tuesday.
 
Established in 1991 and now in its 27th year, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers. The NCAA encourages member schools to honor their top graduating female student-athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the Woman of the Year award. Next, conferences will select up to two conference nominees each from the pool of school nominees.
 
"To be certain, it is a distinct honor any time you have a nominee for this type of national recognition," A&M-Commerce Director of Athletics Tim McMurray said.  "To have two very deserving young ladies nominated in one year is outstanding.  Vicky Back and Ashley Bassett epitomize the term 'scholar-athlete', and it is shines through their commitment in the classroom, in competition, and in service to others.  They exemplify our Best in Class mission."
 
Back was recently honored as a Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete from A&M-Commerce. She finished her A&M-Commerce career ranked first in total minutes played, eighth in total points (71), tied for ninth in assists (15), and tied for tenth in goals scored (28). In the 2016 season, Back became the first player in A&M-Commerce soccer history to be named a First Team All-American, earning that honor from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association, and Hero Sports. In addition, Back was one of the first two student-athletes in program history to be named an NSCAA Scholar All-American. She was a four-time All-American, five time All-Region player and a four-time First Team All-LSC selection, making her the most decorated player in program history.
 
Bassett finished her A&M-Commerce career as the school record holder in the outdoor 100 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles and the 4x400 meter relay and the indoor record holder in the 600 yard dash and the 4x400 meter relay. She was twice named All-Region and is a six-time All-Lone Star Conference athlete, including back-to-back championships in the outdoor 400 meter hurdles. She had 11 first place finishes and 39 finishes in the top three. She is a three-time NCAA Division II Championships qualifier, earning All-American status in the 400 meter hurdles as a senior.
 
A record 543 student-athletes from across the country were nominated for the award by their institutions. Following each conference's selection of two Woman of the Year nominees, The Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will then choose the top 30 honorees - 10 from each division.
 
From the top 30, the selection committee determines the top three honorees from each division and announces the nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then chooses the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year from those nine.
 
The top 30 honorees will be recognized and the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual award ceremony Oct. 22 in Indianapolis.
 
The school nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, with 229 from Division I, 117 from Division II and 197 from Division III. The nominees competed in 21 different women's sports, and 122 were multisport athletes during their time in college – including Bassett, who competed in both indoor and outdoor track and field.
 
Back and Bassett are two of seven nominees from the Lone Star Conference. A&M-Commerce is the only school in the LSC to have multiple nominees this year.