Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCLA on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 70
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Women's Basketball
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Monique Currie Named Naismith Trophy Mid-Season Candidate
2/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2005
ATLANTA (Feb. 21, 2005) - Thirty of the country's top collegiate women's basketball players were named as mid-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men's and women's players of the year.
The Top 30 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season. The list was narrowed down from the pre-season list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season.
Headlining the list was Duke junior Monique Currie, who is averaging 17.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.2 steals and has led the Blue Devils to a 25-2 record. Duke is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation and will next host Miami and North Carolina on Feb. 24 and Feb. 27, respectively, to close out the regular season.
"These women represent the best college players in the nation," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "The Atlanta Tipoff Club looks forward to seeing which player distinguishes themselves among all others to raise the Naismith Trophy in April."
As part of its involvement, Cingular is making this year's selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans have a voice in deciding who wins the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless through the power and ease of wireless text messaging.
"Each of these candidates for player of the year is an exceptional talent and would make an outstanding ambassador for the Naismith Trophy," said Marc Lefar, chief marketing officer for Cingular. "Cingular is proud to give women's college basketball fans a voice in the voting process."
These players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March when four finalists for the Naismith Trophy are announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors.
The mid-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:
Player Height Class Position School
Seimone Augustus 6'1 Jr. Guard LSU
Jacqueline Batteast 6'2" Sr. Forward Notre Dame
Steffanie Blackmon 6'2" Sr. Forward Baylor
Nikki Blue 5'8" Jr. Guard UCLA
Lindsay Bowen 5'7" Jr. Guard Michigan State
Jamie Carey 5'6" Sr. Guard Texas
Monique Currie 6'0" Jr. Guard Duke
Jessica Davenport 6'4" So. Center Ohio State
Jessalyn Deveny 5'9" Sr. Guard Boston College
Shay Doron 5'9" So. Guard Maryland
Ashley Earley 5'10" Sr. Guard/Forward Vanderbilt
Shyra Ely 6'2" Sr. Forward Tennessee
Sandora Irvin 6'3" Sr. Forward TCU
Dionnah Jackson 5'9" Sr. Guard Oklahoma
Tiffany Jackson 6'3" So. Forward Texas
Temeka Johnson 5'3" Sr. Guard LSU
Ivory Latta 5'6" So. Guard North Carolina
Sancho Lyttle 6'4" Sr. Center/Forward Houston
Janel McCarville 6'2" Sr. Center Minnesota
Cappie Pondexter 5'9" Sr. Guard Rutgers
Noelle Quinn 6'0" So. Guard UCLA
Khara Smith 6'2" Jr. Forward DePaul
Kim Smith 6'1" Jr. Forward Utah
Ann Strother 6'2" Jr. Guard Connecticut
Barbara Turner 6'0" Jr. Forward/Guard Connecticut
Kendra Wecker 5'11" Sr. Forward Kansas State
Tan White 5'7" Sr. Guard Mississippi State
Candice Wiggins 5'11" Fr. Guard Stanford
Tanisha Wright 5'11" Sr. Guard Penn State
Sophia Young 6'1" Jr. Forward Baylor
Last year's Naismith Trophy recipient was the University of Connecticut's guard Diana Taurasi. Other notable women's college player of the year winners include Cheryl Miller, Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes, Chamique Holdsclaw and Dawn Staley.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
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 has presented the Naismith Trophy since UCLA's Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. In 1983, Old Dominion's Anne Donovan became the first women's player to win the Trophy.
The Naismith Awards program has become an emblem of excellence for the game, recognizing the Men's and Women's College Players of the Year, Men's and Women's College Coaches of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and overall contribution to the game.
ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 49 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation - the ALLOVER℠ network - and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover℠, the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com. Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at www.cingular.com/newsroom .
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