Connecticut’s Maya Moore, Penn State’s Megan Hodge share college athlete-of-the-year award

Maya Moore is used to sharing the spotlight. The University of Connecticut basketball star has spent three years playing for a famous coach, Geno Auriemma, and alongside standout center Tina Charles.

So sharing the title of collegiate female athlete of the year with Penn State volleyball player Megan Hodge was nothing new.

Moore and Hodge were announced as co-winners of the Honda-Broderick Cup on Monday during a ceremony at UCLA — only the second time the award has been shared in its 34-year history. Iowa State distance runner Lisa Koll was the other finalist for the award.

“The fact that we’re sharing it, the fact that we come from team sports, I think makes it even more exciting,” Moore said.

Moore and Hodge led their teams to undefeated seasons and national championships in the 2009-10 school year. Both have also been major factors in record-setting win streaks: Connecticut has won 78 consecutive games, and Penn State has won 102 straight matches.

Moore, a forward, is a three-time All-American who averaged 18.9 points and 8.3 rebounds last season. Hodge, an outside hitter, is a four-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Conference player of the year.

The Honda-Broderick Cup is awarded for athletic excellence and academic achievement. “It’s just a matter of getting into a routine and approaching your academics the same way you do your athletics,” Moore said. “Put in the time, put in the effort, and just kind of use the same tactics you do in the athletic world.”

Hodge, a senior, is a member of the U.S. national team and plans to move to Italy to play professionally for a year.

Moore, a junior who has one more season of eligibility, said she plans to use it to help the Huskies win another NCAA championship. “We’ve got an 11-man team again and five of them are freshmen, so I’ll get to exercise my leadership skills,” she said with a grin.

Also honored were Louisiana Tech track athlete Antoinette Cobb, who won the Honda Inspiration Award; Concordia-St. Paul volleyball player Maggie McNamara, the Division II athlete of the year; and Bethel (Minn.) distance runner Marie Borner, the Division III athlete of the year.

laura.myers@latimes.com