After posting the best 3-point field-goal percentage in a single season in program history last year, University of Kentucky senior guard Maci Morris has been named one of 20 players to the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Preseason Watch List.
Named after the first player, male or female, named to the All-America Team in four straight college seasons, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top shooting guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
The selection committee for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and hall of famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Drysdale and the hall of fame’s selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist atwww.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Additional awards being presented and recognized at the WBCA Convention include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award, the Katrina McClain Power 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.
Morris had one of the best seasons in Kentucky women’s basketball history last season, averaging 17.3 points per game and ranking second in the nation at 47.5 percent from long range. The high 3-point field-goal percentage was the best in a single season by a UK player in program history. Morris enters her senior season with 1,209 career points to rank 20th all-time while she ranks tied for third with 177 career 3s made and her 39.6 percent from long range ranks second in program history.
The native of Bell County, Kentucky was the only player in the Southeastern Conference to score 20 or more points in seven straight games against league opponents last season. The stretch came against some of the best teams in the country as she scored 22 at Missouri, 21 at Mississippi State, 20 vs. Arkansas, 35 at South Carolina, 20 at Ole Miss, 22 vs. Mississippi State and 25 vs. Alabama.
Morris, who recorded 10 or more points in 27 of her 31 games played in 2017-18, including 15 or more points in 23 games and 20 or more points in 12 games, posted a career-high 35 points at No. 8 South Carolina on Feb. 18, 2018, with a career-high 13 made field goals. That performance helped her become just the third player in program history to score 35+ points in an SEC game.
The guard set or tied career highs during the year in points, field-goals made, field-goals attempted, 3-pointers made, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, or Kentucky Women’s Basketball on Facebook.
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For more information contact:
Evan Crane
