Taurasi Named Finalist for Nancy Lieberman Award

BRISTOL, CT -- Junior Diana Taurasi (Chino, CA) of the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has been named a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award for the best ball handler in the country. Joining Taurasi as finalists are Coretta Brown (North Carolina), Erin Grant (Texas Tech), Michelle Greco (UCLA), Temeka Johnson (LSU), Kara Lawson (Tennessee), Ashley McElhiney (Vanderbilt), Sara Nord (Louisville), Yolanda Paige (West Virginia), Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers), Amy Waugh (Xavier) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota).

Taurasi is currently leading the undefeated and No. 1 UConn Huskies in all three major statistical categories. She averages 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this season. Taurasi was a preseason candidate for the Naismith Player of the Year Award and preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year selected before the 2002-03 season. Last season, she was a Kodak All-American and a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year and the Honda Award.

While the award was first introduced four years ago, there has only been one winner. UConn’s Sue Bird swept the award in each of the past three seasons. A national project of the Rotary Club of Detroit, honors the top point guard who displays floor leadership and play-making and ball-handling skills that personified Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, who was an All-American at Old Dominion. Sportswriters from across the country will nominate the finalists and eventual winner. This year’s award will be presented at a luncheon at The Detroit Athletic Club on April 9. Bill Laimbeer, coach of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock and former Detroit Piston legend, will be the keynote speaker.