Baylor WBB’s Smith Named to Late Season Top 20 for the Wooden Award

[Robarts, Kyle]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – February 1, 2021

Baylor WBB’s Smith Named to Late Season Top 20 for the Wooden Award
Junior power forward ranks in the Top 10 in several Big 12 categories
For more information contact: Kyle Robarts, 254-405-9492, Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu<mailto:Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu>

Smith head shot: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q5xfe1iu1x9f4tp/BU_WBB_Smith_NaLyssa_20-21.JPG?dl=0

WACO, Texas – The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Monday the Late Season Top 20 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy’s, and Baylor junior forward NaLyssa Smith joined 19 other college standouts.

Smith, from Converse, Texas, was a 2020 WBCA and Associated Press All-America honorable mention selection, and she was preseason All-American honorable mention selection by both entities coming into her third season.

She ranks 24th in the NCAA and 4th in the Big 12 Conference with seven double-doubles, and through Sunday’s game at Iowa State, she has had six in her last seven contests. Smith is 9th in the Big 12 in scoring (17.7 ppg), 4th in rebounding (10.1 rpg), 3rd in field goal percentage (.497), and 5th in free-throw percentage (.843) through 14 games.

Smith ranks tied for 6th all-time on Baylor’s career field-goal percentage list at .548, and she is 36 points shy of 1,000 for her career.

From Monday’s announcement, the next step is for the players to reach the Wooden Award national ballot, which will consist of 15 players. More than 1,000 voters will rank those players entering into the NCAA Tournament, the Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced the week of the Elite 8 and the winner of the Wooden Award will be announced following the NCAA Tournament in April.

Wooden Award, Presented by Wendy’s, 2020-21 Late Season Top 20
Name
School
Conference
Height
Class
Position
Aliyah Boston
South Carolina
SEC
6-5
Soph
F
Paige Bueckers
Connecticut
Big East
5-11
Fr.
G
Charli Collier
Texas
Big 12
6-5
Jr.
F/C
Zia Cooke
South Carolina
SEC
5-9
Soph
G
Elissa Cunane
NC State
ACC
6-5
Jr.
C
Rennia Davis
Tennessee
SEC
6-2
Sr.
G/F
Chelsea Dungee
Arkansas
SEC
5-11
Sr.
G
Dana Evans
Louisville
ACC
5-6
Sr.
G
Arella Guirantes
Rutgers
Big Ten
5-11
Sr.
G
Naz Hillmon
Michigan
Big Ten
6-2
Jr.
F
Rhyne Howard*
Kentucky
SEC
6-2
Jr.
G
Rickea Jackson
Mississippi State
SEC
6-2
Soph
F
Ashley Joens
Iowa State
Big 12
6-0
Jr.
G/F
Haley Jones
Stanford
Pac-12
6-1
Soph
G
Natasha Mack
Oklahoma State
Big 12
6-4
Sr.
F
Aari McDonald
Arizona
Pac-12
5-6
Sr.
G
Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Connecticut
Big East
6-5
Jr.
F
Michaela Onyenwere
UCLA
Pac-12
6-0
Sr.
F
NaLyssa Smith
Baylor
Big 12
6-2
Jr.
F
Kiana Williams
Stanford
Pac-12
5-8
Sr.
G

www.BaylorBears.com


___________________________________
Kyle Robarts | Associate Director, Athletics Communications (WBB, WTEN)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-3042 | C: 254-405-9492

[cid:image001.png at 01D6F8B2.D8EC4BC0]<http://baylorbears.com/>
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