Baylor WBB Trio Named to Preseason Watch Lists

[Pirtle, Krista]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Nov. 9, 2021

WBB Trio Named to Preseason Watch Lists
Wooden Award tabs Smith, Lewis, Egbo; Smith also on Wade Trophy List
For more information contact: Krista Pirtle, 254-447-8610, Krista_Pirtle at baylor.edu<mailto:Krista_Pirtle at baylor.edu>


WACO, Texas – The reigning Wade Trophy winner, NaLyssa Smith, was named to the “Wade Watch” list<https://wbca.org/about/press-releases/2021-wade-trophy-winner-nalyssa-smith-headlines-2021-22-preseason-%E2%80%98wade-watch%E2%80%99> of candidates for the 2022 Wade Trophy by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.



That wasn’t the only list the senior forward’s name was on as she was joined by teammates Queen Egbo and Jordan Lewis on the Wooden Award’s Preseason Top 50 Watch List<https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/32591019/paige-bueckers-five-uconn-huskies-top-50-preseason-candidates-2021-wooden-award>. Smith and Egbo were also named to the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s Watch List<http://naismithtrophy.com/2022-womens-jersey-mikes-naismith-awards-watch-list/>.



Smith became the third Bear to bring home the Wade Trophy last season, joining Brittney Griner (2012, 2013) and Odyssey Sims (2014). The Wade Trophy originated in 1978 and was named after Lily Margaret Wade, a three-time national championship coach of Delta State. The Wade Trophy was the first national player of the year award for women’s college basketball.



Smith – the AP Preseason All-American and Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year – is also on the preseason watch list for the Katrina McClain Award, presented to the nation’s top power forward. She won the award last season after averaging a team-best 18.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.



Egbo and Lewis have been previously named to the Lisa Leslie and Nancy Lieberman Award Watch Lists, respectively.



Egbo, a Preseason All-Big 12 honoree, averaged career-bests in points (11.1), rebounds (8.6) and blocks per game (1.9). She moved to ninth all-time on Baylor’s career list for blocks with 56 as a junior, bringing her total to 120 in three seasons.



The Big 12’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year, Lewis is a graduate transfer from Alabama, where she left as the program’s fifth all-time leader in assists with 510 and ninth all-time with 1,581 points. The sixth-year senior guard put up career numbers for the Crimson Tide last season, averaging career-bests with 17.0 points and 4.2 assists per game.



Baylor is tied for second with three honorees (South Carolina and Stanford). Connecticut leads all programs with five selections.



www.BaylorBears.com




Krista Pirtle | Associate Director of Athletics Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-3065 | C: 254-447-8610

[signature_1415018582]<http://www.baylorbears.com/>

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