GoUSFBulls.com Laksa on Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Preseason Watch List

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com

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DATE: November, 7, 2017

 

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Laksa on Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Preseason Watch List

 

TAMPA, NOV. 7, 2017 – The preseason recognition continues to roll in for junior guard Kitija Laksa as the sharp-shooter was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Laksa is one of 20 candidates on the list for top shooting guard in the country.

 The Ann Meyers Drysdale Award is named after the first player, male or female, to be named to the All-America Team for four straight college seasons. The annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top shooting guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

 “Ann Meyers dominated the basketball court as a standout for UCLA, surpassing records held by both men and women at the basketball powerhouse university,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Recognized as the only woman to sign a contract with an NBA team, Ann has been a shining example of character and skill and we are so pleased to announce this award bearing her name.”

 Laksa (Riga, Latvia) was a WBCA All-America honorable mention as a sophomore and is just two points shy of 1,000 points in her career. Last season, Laksa ranked third in the league in scoring with 19.2 points per game and led the Bulls with 634 points last season, a program sophomore scoring record.

 The winner of the 2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be announced at an inaugural awards ceremony hosted by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, and ESPN at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. ESPN broadcast information will be released at a later date.

 For more information on the 2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, visithttp://www.hoophallawards.com.

 

 USF opens its season Friday, Nov. 10 at the USF Sun Dome Arena. The Bulls host LSU at 5:30 p.m.

 

2018 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates

Darby Maggard	Belmont
Katie Lou Samuelson	Connecticut
Ashton Millender	DePaul
Rebecca Greenwell	Duke
Asia Durr	Louisville
Chloe Jackson	LSU
Natisha Hiedeman	Marquette
Allazia Blockton	Marquette
Kaila Charles	Maryland
Victoria Vivians	Mississippi State
Arike Ogunbowale	Notre Dame
Lexi Bando	Oregon
Jovana Nogic	Providence
Jaycee Bradley	South Dakota
Kitija Laksa	South Florida
Akina Wellere	St. John's
Brittany McPhee	Stanford
Dannie Williams	Texas A&M
Kennedy Burke	UCLA
Tynice Martin	West Virginia

  *Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2017-18 season*