Grant and Robertson Named Preseason Naismith Candidates

Nov. 9, 2004

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech junior guard Erin Grant and sophomore forward Alesha Robertson were selected as two of the preseason candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. The Naismith Trophy is presented annually to the men's and women's basketball players of the year.

Grant, a native of Arlington, Texas, was second team All-Big 12 selection in 2004 after averaging 8.3 points and 6.5 assists per game. She currently ranks fourth on Tech's career list for assists with 443 and is on pace to break the school record (603) this season. Plainview, Texas, native Robertson is Tech's top returning scorer from last year as she averaged 12.4 points per contest. Robertson was honorable mention All-Big 12 last season. Robertson was named second team preseason All-America by Women's Basketball News Service, while Grant was named to the third team. Grant was also selected preseason honorable mention All-America by Street and Smith's.

The Top 50 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its pre-season criteria on player performances from last season.

"The women's preseason candidates represent the very best in college basketball," said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Sports Council president. "It will be a privilege to add any of these players to the list of distinguished Naismith Trophy winners."

In January, the Board of Selectors will narrow its pre-season list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March.

"The talent in women's basketball is as deep as it's ever been this season," said Daryl Evans, vice president of advertising and marketing for Cingular Wireless. "Cingular is excited to partner with the Atlanta Tipoff Club to present the best women's player with the most recognizable award in college basketball, the Naismith Trophy."

The preseason candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:

Player, School
Seimone Augustus, LSU
Sherill Baker, Georgia
Jacqueline Batteast, Notre Dame
Steffanie Blackmon, Baylor
Nikki Blue, UCLA
Natasha Brackett, Auburn
Jamie Carey, Texas
Monique Currie, Duke
Jessalyn Deveny, Boston College
Shay Doron, Maryland
Shyra Ely, Tennessee
Emily Faurholt, Idaho
Katie Feenstra, Liberty
Katie Gearlds, Purdue
Erin Grant, Texas Tech,
Sandora Irvin, TCU
Dionnah Jackson, Oklahoma
Tiffany Jackson, Texas
Tamara James, Miami
Temeka Johnson, LSU
Alexis Kendrick, Georgia
Laurie Koehn, Kansas State
Cathrine Kraayeveld, Oregon
Ivory Latta, North Carolina
Camille Little, North Carolina
Sancho Lyttle, Houston
Kristen Mann, UC Santa Barbara
Janel McCarville, Minnesota
Jessica Moore, Connecticut
Loree Moore, Tennessee
Bernice Mosby, Florida
Chelsea Newton, Rutgers
Shawntinice Polk, Arizona
Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers
Noelle Quinn, UCLA
Kathrin Ress, Boston College
Alesha Robertson, Texas Tech 
Heather Schreiber, Texas
Khara Smith, DePaul
Kim Smith, Utah
Ann Strother, Connecticut
Kelley Suminski, Stanford
Carla Thomas, Vanderbilt
Barbara Turner, Connecticut
Kendra Wecker, Kansas State
Dee-Dee Wheeler, Arizona
Tan White, Mississippi State
Tanisha Wright, Penn State
Sophia Young, Baylor
Shanna Zolman, Tennessee

Texas Tech University Athletics

Grant and Robertson Named Preseason Naismith Candidates

Related News

Players Mentioned

Alesha Robertson

Related Videos