PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Redshirt freshman Savannah Gregory was named the Mid-South Conference Women's Basketball Champions of Character award winner, which was announced at tonight's banquet on the University of Pikeville's campus.
 
Champions of Character is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) initiative that recognizes athletes who mirror the core values — integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
 
"Values are like fingerprints. Nobody's values are the same, but you leave them all over everything you do," as Gregory stated a quote from Elvis Presley. "
 
From Scottsville, Ky., Gregory isn't just an All-Conference performer on the court, but also off. In the last two years, Gregory has endured more than many will go through in a life time.
 
In her final season at Allen-County Scottsville, Gregory tore her ACL and was forced to miss her freshman season at CU. But that didn't slow her competitive nature and work ethic. When she arrived on campus, Gregory was the first athlete to open The Powell Athletic Center in the morning and usually the last person getting up shots after practice.
 
Entering this year – her redshirt freshman season - Gregory was forced to miss the first few weeks of fall practice due to a hand injury. But once again, that didn't slow her progress. Gregory started the season scoring in double figures in nine of the first 10 games – including a career-high 19 points vs. Montana State-Northern on Nov. 24.
 
She currently ranks No. 3 in the NAIA and first in the MSC in steals (86) and No. 8 in the country in steals per game (2.8).
 
More adversity struck on January 24^th, as she received a call that rocked her world. Gregory's older sister, Chasity Davis, gave birth to a healthy baby girl but due to complications, Chasity did not make it out of surgery.
 
After spending the day with family on the 24th, Campbellsville was on the road at rival Lindsey Wilson College on Jan. 25^th and the Lady Tigers didn't expect Gregory to be available – for obvious reasons.
 
"I didn't think mentally or physically Savannah would be ready," said coach Ginger Colvin. "I was wrong. She called me on Wednesday night and told me she wanted to play. I assured her that she didn't have to, and that she could do whatever she thought was best. Savannah returned that assurance to me and she wanted to play for her team.
 
"Before the game, I noticed that she wrote her sister's name in Sharpie on the inside of her wrist. Savannah played her heart out that night, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three assists. Her stats mean nothing because we all learned something about Savannah Gregory – she is the toughest kid I know, and in spite of her own pain, she wasn't going to let the people she loved down."
 
A special education major with a GPA of 3.82, Gregory also earned Academic All-Conference and Second-Team All-Conference honors at tonight's banquet. She plans to teach special education or elementary education after her playing days are over.
 
"I feel that teaching special needs children is my calling from God," said Gregory. "I personally take these five core character values strongly and apply them to all areas of my life. Most importantly, I apply them to my spiritual life and how I am called to be as a witness for Christ."
 
But her coach says, "most of all, she is a servant leader."
 
Gregory is involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus and works as a Huddle Leader at the FCA camp that is hosted at CU each summer. She's also involved with Special Olympics as a mentor in Kentucky.
 
"Savannah is a person of great faith," continued Colvin. "Her belief system makes it easy for her to demonstrate the five core character values because she already lives them out each and every day of her life.
 
"She has great integrity and I have never have to question what Savannah is saying or doing. She is genuine, she is loyal, and she is true to her word. I am proud of the young woman Savannah is and the women she will continue to be."
 
In addition to her commitment to her teammates and Jesus Christ, Gregory is a two-time Dean's List recipient and President's List honoree as well. She also competes on the track and field teams at CU, where she earned Academic All-MSC and Second Team All-Conference in the 4x100 relay.
 
Campbellsville women's basketball has seen many student-athletes earn character awards throughout their careers. Gregory is the third Lady Tiger to earn this award – Gregory (2017-18), Kristen Jacob (2014-15, 2015-16) and Courtney Danis (2008-09).

The Lady Tigers open the MSC Tournament in Thursday, March 2 at 2 p.m. ET as they face Georgetown College in the quarterfinal at the Eastern Ky. Expo Center in Pikeville, Ky.