Oct. 16, 2001
Waco, Texas - Baylor seniors Danielle Crockrom and Sheila Lambert are two of the 30 players on the list of preseason candidates for the 2001-2002 Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Awards it was announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
The Naismith Awards program honors the outstanding college basketball players in the Unites States. The 34 year old awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. The candidates were selected by a vote of the Board of Selectors comprised of leading basketball coaches, journalists and basketball analysts.
Crockrom and Lambert combined to form the most potent scoring duo in the nation last year. Lambert, a 5-7 point guard out of Seattle, Wash., led the Big 12 in scoring last season and was 8th nationally with a 22.1 pointa per game average. In addition, she averaged 5.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists a game. Crockrom, a 6-2 forward from Houston, ranked 14th nationally in scoring and 5th in rebounding and led the Big 12 in rebounding. She averaged 21.2 points and 11.6 rebounds a game and set Big 12 records for season rebounds (347) and double-doubles in a season with 19. Both players were named first-team All-Big 12 and were selected to several All-America teams.
"Danielle and Sheila are very deserving of this honor and the numerous other preseason honors they've received. But, they'll be the first to tell you, individual honors are not a priority for them, they are very team oriented individuals, " said Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson.
2001-2002 Preseason Naismith Candidates
Chanelle Anderson - Vanderbilt
Alana Beard - Duke
Lucienne Berthieu - Old Dominion
Sue Bird - Connecticut
Swin Cash - Connecticut
LaNeishea Caufield - Oklahoma
Danielle Crockrom - Baylor
Stacey Dales - Oklahoma
Chrissy Floyd - Clemson
Catrina Frierson - Louisiana Tech
Deanna Jackson - UAB
Gwen Jackson - Tennessee
Sheila Lambert - Baylor
Kara Lawson - Tennessee
Takeisha Lewis - Louisiana Tech
Brandi McCain - Florida
Tawana McDonald - Georgia
Plenette Pierson - Texas Tech
Nicole Powell - Stanford
Alicia Ratay - Notre Dame
Michelle Snow - Tennessee
Diana Taurasi - Connecticut
Nikki Teasley - North Carolina
LaToya Thomas - Mississippi State
Ayana Walker - Louisiana Tech
Angie Welle - Iowa State
Tamika Williams - Connecticut
Shaquala Williams - Oregon
Shereka Wright - Purdue
DeTrina White - LSU
Last year's recipient was Notre Dame's Ruth Riley.
