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<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right"><a name="OLE_LINK11"></a><a name="OLE_LINK12"></a><a name="OLE_LINK23"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">BAYLOR
ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – </span></b></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">April 4, 2021</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><a name="OLE_LINK9"></a><a name="OLE_LINK10"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baylor
WBB’s Smith Named Katrina McClain Award Winner</span></b></span></a></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK10"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9"><u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK9"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK10"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Junior Lady Bear selected as nation’s top power forward</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For more information contact: </span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Kyle
Robarts, 254-405-9492, </span></span></span><a href="mailto:Kyle_Robarts@baylor.edu"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#954F72">Kyle_Robarts@baylor.edu</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Smith head shot:
</span></strong></span></span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/q5xfe1iu1x9f4tp/BU_WBB_Smith_NaLyssa_20-21.JPG?dl=0"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white">https://www.dropbox.com/s/q5xfe1iu1x9f4tp/BU_WBB_Smith_NaLyssa_20-21.JPG?dl=0</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><br>
<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">WACO, Texas – </span></strong></span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The
Naismith Hall of Fame, in association with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, named Baylor junior power forward NaLyssa Smith the winner of the Katrina McClain Award, Sunday, as a part of the Hoophall Starting Five Awards.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Smith was named the nation’s top power forward after leading the 28-3
Baylor Lady Bears to Big 12 Championships in the regular season and tournament while helping Baylor to its 10th NCAA Elite 8 appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Smith beat out four other finalists for the honor, including Jasmine
Walker of Alabama, Naz Hillmon of Michigan, Natasha Mack of Oklahoma State and Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">“</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I’m
extremely honored to be receiving such a prestigious award like The Katrina McClain Award. I am very grateful for the recognition I have received for my play in women’s college basketball,” said Smith. “I have faced several challenges along the way, but each
one of them has only strengthened me to make me the person I am today. Receiving this award would not have been possible without the inspiration from God, my family, my coaches and my teammates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“I would sincerely like to thank the selection committee and Katrina McClain for recognizing me for
all the hard work and dedication that I put into women’s college basketball,” she said. “I also promise to only get better at my craft so that I can provide a path and vision for the future up and coming Katrina McClain Award winners.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">McClain played on three USA Olympic teams, winning two gold medals, and she was a two-time NCAA National
Player of the Year for the University of Georgia. She was known as a prolific rebounder and scorer throughout her career.<span style="color:black;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Smith has already been selected as the WBCA’s Wade Trophy Award winner
for nation’s top player, she was named a First-Team All-American by the <i>Associated Press</i> and ESPN.com, and she earned second-team honors from the USBWA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">She was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, the Most Outstanding Player
of the Big 12 Championship and was an NCAA Riverwalk Region All-Tournament selection after Baylor’s exit in the Elite 8.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">Smith averaged 18.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 56.1
percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the charity stripe. She added 38 steals on defense to go with 26 blocks for the 28-3 Lady Bears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">She is also in the running for another national player of the year award
with the John R. Wooden Award winner yet to be named.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">The McClain Award is in its fourth season with past winners including
Ruthy Hebard of Oregon, a two-time winner, and UConn’s Napheesa Collier.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK12"><span style="mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK11"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">www.BaylorBears.com</span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">___________________________________</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#006132">Kyle Robarts</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#006132"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">| Associate Director, Athletics Communications (WBB, WTEN)</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">O: 254-710-3042 | C: 254-405-9492</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://baylorbears.com/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="160" height="44" style="width:1.6666in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D72958.564D3400"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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