Army West Point Athletics
Minato Selected as Candidate for Lieberman Award
February 08, 2016 | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior captain Kelsey Minato was named as one of 10 candidates for the 2016 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday. Now in its 16th year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame became the host of the Nancy Lieberman Award two years ago after the Rotary Club of Detroit managed it for several years.
Minato has started in all 21 of Army's games this season and currently leads the Patriot League, and ranks sixth nationally, with 23.5 points per game. She is also among the nation's top 10 players in three-point percentage, ranking fifth with a percentage of 46.3.
"The women on this list exhibit many of the attributes that made Nancy Lieberman such an extraordinary player and team leader," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "With the annual Nancy Lieberman Award, the Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the phenomenal point guards who continue to advance women's college basketball and inspire the next generation of athletes."
The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The list will be narrowed down to five finalists in early March. The Lieberman Award winner will be announced during the WBCA Award Show in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Women's Final Four.
Army (19-2 overall, 10-1 Patriot League) takes its nine-game winning streak to Hamilton, N.Y., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the Black Knights face Colgate at 7 p.m.
2016 Nancy Lieberman Award Finalists
Kelsey Minato, Army West Point
Niya Johnson, Baylor
Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
Jessica January, DePaul
April Robinson, Duquesne
Brene Moseley, Maryland
Lindsay Allen, Notre Dame
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
Jasmine Nwajei, Wagner
Kelsey Plum, Washington
*Players can play their way onto and off of the Watch List and the Final 5
Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame became the host of the Nancy Lieberman Award two years ago after the Rotary Club of Detroit managed it for several years.
Minato has started in all 21 of Army's games this season and currently leads the Patriot League, and ranks sixth nationally, with 23.5 points per game. She is also among the nation's top 10 players in three-point percentage, ranking fifth with a percentage of 46.3.
"The women on this list exhibit many of the attributes that made Nancy Lieberman such an extraordinary player and team leader," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "With the annual Nancy Lieberman Award, the Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the phenomenal point guards who continue to advance women's college basketball and inspire the next generation of athletes."
The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The list will be narrowed down to five finalists in early March. The Lieberman Award winner will be announced during the WBCA Award Show in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Women's Final Four.
Army (19-2 overall, 10-1 Patriot League) takes its nine-game winning streak to Hamilton, N.Y., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the Black Knights face Colgate at 7 p.m.
2016 Nancy Lieberman Award Finalists
Kelsey Minato, Army West Point
Niya Johnson, Baylor
Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
Jessica January, DePaul
April Robinson, Duquesne
Brene Moseley, Maryland
Lindsay Allen, Notre Dame
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
Jasmine Nwajei, Wagner
Kelsey Plum, Washington
*Players can play their way onto and off of the Watch List and the Final 5
Players Mentioned
Guard
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