University of Delaware Athletics
Delle Donne Still in Running for 2013 Naismith College Player of the Year
2/27/2013 6:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA -- The University of Delaware women's basketball senior All-American Elena Delle Donne is amongst the top 30 candidates under consideration for the Naismith Women's College Player of the Year award, as announced Wednesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Delle Donne was the 2008 Naismith High School Girl's Player of the Year as a senior at Wilmington's Uruline Academy.
The top 30 candidates were selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances during this year's college basketball season.
For the year, Delle Donne averages 25.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game. She ranks second in the nation in points per game and is seventh in the NCAA with a 91.4 free throw percentage. Delle Donne holds a career total of 2,786 points, which is good for 19th all-time in NCAA women's basketball history.
The forward holds 10 different Delaware women's basketball records in addition to taking rein over five statistical areas in Colonial Athletic Association history.
In late March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will narrow down the pack to four finalists. The Naismith Women's College Player of the Year presented by AT&T will be awarded to one female athlete on April 8, 2013 in New Orleans, La.
For the ninth consecutive year, fans will have the opportunity to text their votes for the player of their choice and help determin the 2013 Naismith Trophy winner. Voting will open to fans on Monday, March 25.
Notable Naismith Women's College Player of the Year winners include Chamique Holdsclaw, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, and Tina Charles.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA's Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion's Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women's Naismith Trophy in 1983.
The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men's and Women's College Basketball Player of the Year, Men's and Women's College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.
Agate:
Top 30 Candidates for 2013 Naismith Women's Player of the Year Award:
Alex Bentley (G, Sr., Penn State), Kelsey Bone (C, Jr., Texas A&M), Layshia Clarendon (G, Sr., California), Elena Delle Donne (G/F, Sr., Delaware),Skylar Diggins (G, Sr., Notre Dame), Stefanie Dolson (C, Jr., Connecticut), Aaryn Ellenberg (G, Jr., Oklahoma), Shante Evans (F, Sr., Hofstra), Kelly Faris (G, Sr., Connecticut), Angel Goodrich (G, Sr., Kansas), Chelsea Gray (G, Jr., Duke), Brittney Griner (C, Sr., Baylor), Bria Hartley (G, Jr., Connecticut), Tianna Hawkins (F, Sr., Maryland), Tayler Hill (G, Sr., Ohio State), Jordan Hooper (F, Jr., Nebraska), Maggie Lucas (G, Jr., Penn State), A'dia Matthies (G, Sr., Kentucky), Kayla McBride (G, Jr., Notre Dame), Lindsey Moore (G, Sr., Nebraska), Kaleena Moaqueda-Lewis (F., So., Connecticut), Chiney Oguwmike (F, Jr., Stanford), Karisma Penn (F, Sr., Illinois), Niveen Rasheed (G/F, Jr., Princeton), Sugar Rodgers (G, Sr., Georgetown), Ebony Rowe (F, Jr., Middle Tennessee State), Odyssey Sims (G, Jr., Baylor), Alyssa Thomas (F, Jr., Maryland), Elizabeth Williams (C, So., Duke).
