KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee sophomore guard Evina Westbrook was named to the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watch List by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Westbrook was one of 20 point guards nominated for the award named for Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Now in its 20th season, the award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. The list of 20 will be narrowed down to 10 by mid-February with five finalists being named in March. The winner of the 2019 Lieberman Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
Now entering her sophomore campaign, Westbrook started all 33 games last season and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after notching 8.4 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in 2017-18. Her assist average ranked second-best all-time by a Lady Vol freshman. Her 12 assists against Troy tied the school’s freshman record for assists in a game and ranked seventh all-time.
Westbrook logged 10 or more points in 12 games as a rookie and notched three or more assists in 26 games.
Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
The Lady Vols will return to action with an exhibition game against Carson-Newman at home on Monday, Nov. 5 in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. ET, and the game will be streamed by SEC Network+.
2019 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates
Laia Raventos, Charlotte
Kennedy Leonard, Colorado
Crystal Dangerfield, Connecticut
Kelly Campbell, Depaul
Kyra Lambert, Duke
Taja Cole, Georgia
Kayla Goth, Kansas State
Channise Lewis, Maryland
Kenisha Bell, Minnesota
Paris Kea, North Carolina
Marina Mabrey, Notre Dame
Chastadie Barnes, Lamar
Carmen Grande, Ohio State
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Destiny Slocum, Oregon State
Jessica Kovatch, Saint Francis
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse
Evina Westbrook, Tennessee
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
*This list is fluid – players can play their way onto and off the Watch List throughout the season.
UT Athletics
