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Abby Waner Named To Naismith Watch List
12/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. ? Duke University junior Abby Waner was one of 50 women's basketball players named to the 2007-08 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T preseason candidate watch list, which was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball's players of the year. The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its preseason criteria on player performances from last season and expectations for the 2007-08 campaign. There are 27 seniors, 18 juniors and five sophomores on the list, which does not include incoming freshmen, who will be considered in the first ballot in January, 2008.
Waner, who is a native of Highlands Ranch, Colo., has been hampered by an ankle injury suffered prior Duke's second game this season but has returned to action playing in the last five contests. The 5-10 guard is coming off a record-setting performance on Tuesday against Utah Valley as she broke the single-game steals mark with her 10 swipes. Her 10 steals tied the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record and was tied for the fourth-most in the NCAA this season.
One of the top three-point shooters in the women's game today, Waner also registered 19 points and seven assists as she totaled her second career double-double against Utah Valley. Since returning from her injury, Waner is averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.6 steals and hit 34.0 percent of her field goals. She has hit 10 of 28 three-pointers in those contests.
Waner has now been selected to all three lists for National Player of the Year consideration -- State Farm Wade Watch, John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Award.
AT&T will continue to set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining this year's winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25% of the final results ? more than any other national college basketball award.
In January, the Naismith Trophy voting academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, will narrow its preseason list to the top 30 players in the nation. Those players will be eligible for the final ballot in March. In April, the Naismith Trophy winner will be recognized at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
Last year's Naismith Trophy recipient was Duke University guard Lindsey Harding, who became the first Blue Devil woman to win the award. The last Big East player to claim the trophy was Connecticut's Diana Taurasi, who won it in back-to-back years (2003 and 2004). Other notable winners include Cheryl Miller (USC), Dawn Staley (Virginia) and Chamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee).
Duke will next host Bucknell on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
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Last First Class Position School
Ajavon Matee Sr. Guard Rutgers
Allen Charel Sr. Guard Notre Dame
Anderson Jolene Sr. Guard Wisconsin
Anosike Nicky Sr. Center Tennessee
Appel Jayne So. Forward/Center Stanford
Balerio Tahnee Sr. Guard Missouri State
Beck Kimberly Sr. Guard George Washington
Cann Jernisha Jr. Forward IUPUI
Carson Essence Sr. Guard/Forward Rutgers
Charles Tina So. Center Connecticut
Cirone Kristi Jr. Guard Illinois State
Coleman Marissa Jr. Guard/Forward Maryland
Cowher Meagan Sr. Forward Princeton
Dahir Brandy Sr. Forward Drake
DeHaan Allyssa So. Center Michigan State
Edwards Traci Jr. Center Wis.-Milwaukee
Ellis Krystal Jr. Guard Marquette
Fowles Sylvia Sr. Center Louisiana State
Hampton Devanei Jr. Forward/Center California
Harper Laura Sr. Forward/Center Maryland
Harris Amber So. Forward Xavier
Hightower Carlene Sr. Guard/Forward La Salle
Hornbuckle Alexis Sr. Guard Tennessee
Houston Charde Sr. Forward Connecticut
Humphrey Tasha Sr. Forward Georgia
Jackson Tye Sr. Guard Houston
Kahle Kelsey Jr. Guard/Forward Portland State
Kelly Crystal Sr. Forward Western Kentucky
Langhorne Crystal Sr. Forward/Center Maryland
Larkins Erlana Sr. Forward North Carolina
McCoughtry Angel Jr. Forward Louisville
McFarland Jackie Sr. Forward Colorado
Montgomery Renee Jr. Guard Connecticut
Morales Mandy Jr. Guard Montana
Murphy Marlena Sr. Forward Campbell
Neal Sherell Sr. Forward New Mexico State
Packer Marscilla Sr. Guard Ohio State
Paris Courtney Jr. Center Oklahoma
Parker Candace Jr. Guard/Forward/Center Tennessee
Parker Rebekah Sr. Guard/Forward Evansville
Smith Tanya Sr. Forward Hawaii
Starks Takia Jr. Guard Texas A&M
Thomas Toni Jr. Forward Cal. State Fullerton
Toliver Kristi Jr. Guard Maryland
Vaughn Kia Jr. Center Rutgers
Walker Ashley Jr. Forward/Center California
Walker Marcedes Sr. Center Pittsburgh
Waner Abby Jr. Guard Duke
Wiggins Candice Sr. Guard Stanford
Wright Monica So. Guard Virginia
Players Mentioned
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