North Carolina's Breland wins Inspiration Award

NEW YORK (AP) -- North Carolina basketball player Jessica Breland has won the Honda Inspiration Award after returning to the court following treatment for

NEW YORK (AP) -- North Carolina basketball player Jessica Breland has won the Honda Inspiration Award after returning to the court following treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Breland was diagnosed with the disease in May 2009 and received chemotherapy. She sat out a year and returned to basketball this season. She averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in the ACC tournament.

Despite six months of cancer treatment, Breland attended classes and kept up at least a 3.0 GPA in her last four semesters to earn a spot on the ACC honor roll.

Breland was a second-round pick in the WNBA draft last month and is trying to make the roster of the New York Liberty.

She will be presented with the award during the Honda ceremony June 27 in New York.