Baylor WBB’s Richards Named to Lieberman Award ‘Final Five’

[Robarts, Kyle]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 1, 2021

Baylor WBB’s Richards Named to Lieberman Award ‘Final Five’
Senior Lady Bear in contention for nation’s top point guard award
For more information contact: Kyle Robarts, 254-405-9492, Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu<mailto:Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu>

Richards head shot: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve65a3ms8np3r4e/BU_WBB_Richards_DiDI_20-21.JPG?dl=0

WACO, Texas – Baylor senior point guard DiDi Richards earned a spot on the Naismith/WBCA Nancy Lieberman Award ‘Final Five’ list, Monday. The Lieberman Award, in its 22nd year, recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

Richards has started 19 games at point guard for the No 7-ranked Lady Bears, and it marks the first year at the position for the fourth-year player. A Cypress, Texas, native, Richards had played at the No. 2 or No. 3 guard spot for the Lady Bears prior to this season.

The transition has been seamless, and Richards leads the Big 12 and ranks 2nd in the NCAA in assists per game at 7.0. Her 3.18:1 assist-to-turnover ratio also leads the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally.

Couple her distribution numbers with her perimeter defense ability, and Richards stands in a class of her own. She was named both the WBCA and Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and is a finalist for the Naismith defensive honor once again in 2021.

Richards averages 7.2 points per contest, ranks third on the team with 30 steals, and according to Synergy, is holding defensive assignments to 29-percent shooting on the season. She has five games this season with double-digit assists, and in 12 of the last 14 contests, Richards has at least six assists.

She is seven assists shy (519) of passing Kristy Wallace (525) for third all-time on the BU career list for assists. At her 7.0 assists-per-game pace, she has a chance to become third all-time in tonight’s game vs. Texas at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.

The Lady Bears have had one Lieberman Award winner in their history with Odyssey Sims taking home the hardware after the 2013-14 season. Alexis Jones was a top-10 finalist in 2016-17 and Te’a Cooper was a ‘Final Five’ selection last season for Baylor.

Fans can contribute to Richards’ chances of winning beginning March 5-19, by voting for their selections of the Naismith WBCA/Starting Five Awards. The voters will have a chance to vote for their favorite candidates of the Lieberman, Drysdale, Miller, McClain and Leslie Awards for point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center, respectively.

The winners of the Starting Five are generally announced the week of the NCAA Final Four, however, with COVID-19, the dates and times have not been set for the recognition of the winners.

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 01D70E92.81335CC0]<http://baylorbears.com/>
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