Appel, Charles, Griffin and Moore Vie for Prestigious Naismith Trophy
Fans Will Have an Opportunity to Vote for the Winner Using Their AT&T Phone
ATLANTA (March 21, 2010) – Two conference players of the year and the reigning winner are among the four candidates who make up the final ballot for the 2010 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Jayne Appel (Stanford), Tina Charles (Connecticut), Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska) and Maya Moore (Connecticut) will vie for the most prestigious national award in women’s college basketball. The winner will be announced at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association awards luncheon April 5 in San Antonio, Texas.
The finalists were voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s National Voting Academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The academy based its criteria on player performances this season. The vote was tabulated and certified by the accounting firm of Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP. HA&W is the largest independent accounting firm in Georgia and one of the top 50 firms in the United States.
“These candidates all have enjoyed stellar seasons, and in some cases, careers, both on and off the court,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “They all should be honored for their strong contributions to the Women’s game, and we are particularly excited to recognize the winner of the prestigious Naismith Trophy.”
Beginning March 21, AT&T wireless customers – and sports fans on other wireless networks – will be able to text their votes for the player of their choice by texting VOTE to 345345. Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 3, 2010. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers, allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. Standard messaging rates apply. Fans are allowed one vote per 24-hour period.
"AT&T congratulates these four stellar student-athletes for being named finalists of this esteemed award," said Jamie Kerr, senior manager, AT&T National Sponsorships. "We're proud to once again open up the floor to the fans by inviting them to help name the Naismith Trophy winner for the Women's College Basketball Player of the Year. With these incredible averages and outstanding performances thus far in their careers, fans will have a tough time picking a favorite."
ABOUT THE FINALISTS
Jayne Appel, Senior Center: The 2010 Pac-10 Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year averaged 13.8 points per game and 9.2 rebound, which ranks second in the Pac-10. She helped the Cardinal capture the Conference regular-season title all four years of her career, the league tournament crown three-straight years and made two trips to the NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four. During her senior season she broke the Pac-10's all-time rebounding record and ranks in the top-15 among the league's all-time scorers. Additionally, Appel has had 13 double-doubles this season while leading the Cardinal to an 18-0 mark in Conference play.
Tina Charles, Senior Center: A unanimous selection to the All-BIG EAST First Team she was named the 2010 Big East Player of the Year. Charles averaged a team-best 18.9 points in conference play, had 11 double-doubles and finished second in the league in scoring and blocked shots (2.5 per game) and fourth in rebounding (9.3). She broke the school all-time scoring and rebounding records in the Huskies’ regular-season finale, and currently stands with 2,184 points and 1,272 rebounds for her career. Charles had 31 games with double-figure points this season and has 115 in her career.
Kelsey Griffin: Senior Forward: Kelsey Griffin: Senior Forward: The Big 12 Player of the Year has produced a career year, leading the Big 12 with 18 double-doubles, including 12 in Conference games. Griffin averaged career bests of 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in just 27.5 minutes per game, and scored 20 or more points 16 times, including 11 games with 25 or more. Griffin earned six Big 12 Player-of-the-Week awards this season, including four straight to end the season, and captured 19 double-figure rebound efforts this year. She is a Three-Time First-Team All-Big 12 and Academic All-Big 12 selection. She is also one of nine finalists for the V Foundation Comeback Award.
Maya Moore: Junior Forward: The reigning Naismith Trophy winner who also won two National Naismith High School Girl’s Player of the Year awards scored in double figures in 32 games this season and 106 times in her 110-game career. For the season she averaged 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the undefeated Huskies. Moore was a member of the 2010 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and chosen as the 2009-10 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the fifth Connecticut player to earn the honor.
Other notable Naismith Trophy past winners include Cheryl Miller (USC), Candace Parker (Tennessee), Dawn Staley (Virginia), and Sheryl Swoopes (Texas Tech).
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, an Atlanta Sports Council property, is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club, founded during the 1956-57 season, has presented the Naismith Trophy every year since UCLA’s Lew Alcindor first won the award in 1969. Old Dominion’s Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women’s Naismith Trophy in 1983.
The Naismith Award has become the most prestigious award in all of college basketball, recognizing the Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year, Men’s and Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year, as well as awards for outstanding achievement in high school basketball, officiating, and contribution to the game.
ABOUT AT&T
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