Griner, who helped lead Baylor to the first 40-0 season in either the men's or women's college game, already has taken home the Wade Trophy, the Naismith Trophy, The Associated Press national player of the year honor and the WBCA defensive player of the year award.
She also becomes Baylor's second Honda Award winner. Zuzana Zemenova was honored in women's tennis in 2005 after winning the NCAA singles title as a freshman.
"I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball," Griner said in a statement. "I want to thank the voters and Collegiate Women Sports Awards for this prestigious honor, as well as my coaches, teammates, and especially my mom and dad, for without all of them, this would not be possible."
The Honda Sports Award is presented annually to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. As a Honda prize recipient, Griner becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious Honda Cup. She was chosen by a vote of coaches from 1,000 NCAA member schools.
Nnemkadi Ogwumike of Stanford, Skylar Diggins of Notre Dame and Elena Delle Donne of Delaware also were finalists for the Honda award.
The 6-foot-8 Griner, of Houston, averaged 23.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and a
nation-high 5.2 blocked shots per game this season. With 2,425 points and 599 blocks to her credit, she is the first NCAA player to score more than 2,000 points and block more than 500 shots and needs just 65 blocks to become the all-time blocks leader.
Courtesy ESPN
No comments:
Post a Comment