OVC ANOINTS PALMER FEMALE ATHLETE OF YEAR

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Kim Palmer of Southeast Missouri State was named the OVC's female athlete of the year while Austin Peay's "Bubba" Wells repeated as the conference's top male athlete.

The announcement came from conference officials at a Thursday luncheon.

Palmer played a dual role both for Southeast in basketball and softball. In softball she led the Otahkians to the OVC regular-season and tournament softball titles and was named the league's player of the year.

The two-time all-conference pick led the OVC in RBIs (41) and home runs (5). She was ranked among the league's top 10 in five other offensive categories, including third in batting average (.395).

"She was an offensive threat every time she came to the plate," said Southeast coach Lana Richmond. "She gained respect from schools in the OVC and other teams in our district. Teams tried to pitch around her because she was such a threat but she came through."

Palmer was also an honorable mention all-conference pick in basketball after averaging 11.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season. She led the Otahkians in blocked shots with 33 her senior season and finished third on the career list with 96 blocks.

"Kim is a tremendous athlete, one of the best athletes to come across this university in a while," said Southeast basketball coach Ed Arnzen. "I believe she made a lot of strides in basketball for us and had a very good senior year. I am extremely happy for her and the university."

Wells, the men's basketball player of the year, came back from a stress fracture that kept him out until January to average 31.7 points a game and lead Austin Peay to its first regular-season conference title in 20 years. He became the school's all-time leading scorer and finished third on the conference career list.

Meanwhile, former Middle Tennessee State University baseball coach John Stanford and former OVC president Dr. Kala Stroup were inducted into the conference's Hall of Fame Thursday.