Baylor WBB’s Smith Named to Wooden Award Midseason Watch List

[Pirtle, Krista]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Jan. 5, 2022

WBB’s Smith Named to Wooden Award Midseason Watch List
Senior forward recognized on National Player of the Year Watch List
For more information contact: Krista Pirtle, 254-447-8610, Krista_Pirtle at baylor.edu<mailto:Krista_Pirtle at baylor.edu>


LOS ANGELES – Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith advanced to the Midseason Top 25 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award Presented by Wendy’s. Smith was on the preseason watch list and leads the Bears in scoring and rebounds at 20.4 and 12.6, respectively.



The Converse, Texas, native leads the nation with 11 double-doubles this season. She’s also top 10 in the country in defensive rebounds per game (3rd, 8.9), field goals made (6th, 102), final points (9th, 265), rebounds (4th, 164) and rebounds per game (4th, 12.6).



Smith put up 30 points at Maryland and nearly had a 20-20 performance with 21 points and a career-best 19 rebounds against Houston.



This marks the third-straight year that Smith reached the Midseason Watch List team for the John R. Wooden Award. The Los Angeles Athletic Club puts on the honor, and it is given to college basketball’s most outstanding player. Players that did not make the Midseason Watch List team can still make their way on to the late-season list based on performance.



Smith joined five other Bears (Brittney Griner, Odyssey Sims, Nina Davis, Niya Johnson and Lauren Cox) last season when she landed on the Wooden Award All-American team. Griner won the award in back-to-back seasons in 2011-12 and 2012-13.



For the latest news on the Baylor women's basketball team all season long, follow their official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorWBB.



2021-22 Midseason Top 25

Shakira Austin             Mississippi      Sr.       C

Kierstan Bell                FGCU              Jr.        G

Aliyah Boston*            S. Carolina      Jr.        F

Cameron Brink            Stanford          So.       F

Paige Bueckers**        UConn             So.       G

Caitlin Clark                Iowa                So.       G

Zia Cooke                   S. Carolina      Jr.        G

Lorela Cubaj               Georgia Tech  Sr.       F

Elissa Cunane             NC State         Sr.       C

Destanni Henderson   S. Carolina      Sr.       G

Naz Hillmon                Michigan         Sr.       F

Mackenzie Holmes     Indiana            Jr.        F

Rhyne Howard*          Kentucky         Sr.       G

Rickea Jackson          Miss. State      Jr.        F

Ashley Joens              Iowa State       Sr.       G/F

Haley Jones                Stanford          Jr.        G

Elizabeth Kitley           Virginia Tech   Jr.        C

Ayoka Lee                   Kansas State  Jr.        C

Aneesah Morrow        DePaul            Fr.        F

Charisma Osborne     UCLA              Jr.        G

Ashley Owusu             Maryland         Jr.        G

Angel Reese               Maryland         So.       F/G

NaLyssa Smith*          Baylor              Sr.       F

Jenna Staiti                 Georgia           Sr.       C

Maddy Westbeld         Notre Dame    So.       F



* Indicates player selected as 2020-21 Wooden Award All American

** Indicates player selected as 2020-21 Wooden Award Winner



www.BaylorBears.com




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

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

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