Baylor WBB’s Smith Named as Finalist for the McClain Award

[Robarts, Kyle]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – February 4, 2021

Baylor WBB’s Smith Named as Finalist for the McClain Award
Junior among 10 players for nation’s top power forward
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 – Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith earned a spot as a finalist Thursday for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Katrina McClain Award. The honor recognizes the top power forward in women’s college basketball.

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.

The McClain Award will be narrowed to five candidates in March before the winner is announced April 9 as a part of the other “Starting Five” awards. DiDi Richards was named as a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award Monday for nation’s top point guard.

This season marks the fourth-straight for a Baylor player to be a finalist for the McClain Award. In each of the previous three seasons, Lauren Cox was a finalist and went on to be named a Final Five contender for the honor.

2021 Katrina McClain Award Candidates*
Jasmine Walker
Alabama
Unique Thompson
Auburn
NaLyssa Smith
Baylor
Naz Hillmon
Michigan
Jessika Carter
Mississippi State
Natasha Mack
Oklahoma State
Francesca Belibi
Stanford
N'dea Jones
Texas A&M
Chelsey Perry
UT Martin
Maddy Siegrist
Villanova

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-21 season

www.BaylorBears.com


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

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