(INDIANA RELEASE)
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – For the second consecutive season, senior guard Ali Patberg has been named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Top 10 watchlist on Monday afternoon, announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Patberg, in her sixth year of eligibility with the Hoosiers in 2020-21, currently averages 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and a +2.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. She has scored in double figures in seven games for IU this season and dished out multiple assists in 13 games. The Columbus, Ind. was a top 10 finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award in 2020 and is one of two top 10 finalists returning from last season (Destiny Slocum, Arkansas). In addition to appearing on the nation's top point guard watch list, Patberg also earned spots on the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy watch lists along with a spot on the preseason All-Big Ten team in the 2020-21 season.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2021 Lieberman Award will be presented April 9, 2021, along with the four other members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five. College basketball fans can support their favorite players by participating in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies.
Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018-20), Kelsey Plum, Washington (2017), Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut (2015-16), Odyssey Sims, Baylor (2014), Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13), Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga (2011), Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State (2010), Renee Montgomery, Connecticut (2009), Kristi Toliver, Maryland (2008), Lindsey Harding, Duke (2007), Ivory Latta, North Carolina (2006), Temeka Johnson, LSU (2005), Diana Taurasi, Connecticut (2003-04), and Sue Bird, Connecticut (2000-02).
For more information on the 2021 Nancy Lieberman Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #LiebermanAward on Twitter and Instagram. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Friday, February 5 at 1 p.m. EST on HoophallAwards.com.
2021 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates*
Destiny Slocum
Arkansas
DiDi Richards
Baylor
Dyaisha Fair
Buffalo
Paige Bueckers
Connecticut
Ali Patberg
Indiana
Hailey Van Lith
Louisville
Myah Taylor
Mississippi State
Raina Perez
NC State
Diamond Johnson
Rutgers
Tiana Mangakahia
Syracuse
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-21 season