Two Huskies Land on Postseason Radar

UConn senior Katie Lou Samuelson has made the Top-10 list for the 2019 Ann
Myers Drysdale Award honoring the best shooting forward in NCAA women's
basketball.

By Bob Phillips

SPRINGFIELD, MA—Basketball, of course, is a team game, but one filled with individual awards. This year, UConn’s two senior leaders are in the running for two biggies.

Senior Katie Lou Samuelson has been tabbed a Top-10 candidate for the 2019 AnnMeyers Drysdale Award, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Now in its second year, the award recognizes the top shooting guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

Samuelson is averaging 19.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game. She leads UConn with 59 three pointers. Last month, Samuelson became the 10^th Husky all-time to reach 2,000 career points.

A national committee comprising of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Meyers Drysdale and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.

2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates

Aari McDonald	Arizona
Darby Maggard	Belmont
Cierra Dillard	Buffalo
Katie Lou Samuelson	Connecticut
Candice White	Fresno St.
Maci Morris	Kentucky
Asia Durr	Louisville
Arike Ogunbowale	Notre Dame

Meanwhile, Napheesa Collier is one of 10 candidates up for the Katrina McClain Award. Also in its second year, this annual honor recognizes the top power forward in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

Collier leads UConn with 19.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. She has 13 double-doubles on the season and has scored in double-digit points in every game. The O’Fallon, MO, native has scored at least 20 points in the last eight games, including three 30-plus point performances.

Naphees Collier is a Katrina McClain Award candidate.

A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. 

The winners of the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award and 2019 Katrina McClain Power Forward Award will be announced in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) at the Women’s Final Four in Tampa, FL. Additional awards being presented and recognized at the WBCA Convention include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award. Also being awarded is the Wade Trophy, the sport’s oldest and most prestigious National Player of the Year award which is presented annually by the WBCA’s community of coaches to the best player in college women’s basketball.

—Colleen White contributed to this report