Storrs, Conn. (March 23, 2004) - Connecticut senior Diana Taurasi has been selected as the 2004 Naismith National Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.

This marks the second consecutive season that Taurasi has been honored as the Naismith National Player of the Year.

Taurasi becomes the fifth player to win the award in multiple seasons joining a list that includes USC's three-time winner Cheryl Miller (84, 85, 86), Texas' Clarissa Davis (87, 89), Virginia's Dawn Staley (91, 92) and Tennessee's Chamique Holdsclaw (98, 99).

Taurasi, a 6'0" senior guard, has led the Huskies to a pair of NCAA titles and three Final Fours during her tenure. The two-time BIG EAST Player of the Year (2003 & 2004), she was also named to the BIG EAST Silver Anniversary Team - the only active player selected to the squad which recognized the top players in BIG EAST women's basketball history.

During Taurasi's career she has guided Connecticut to an overall mark of 134-8 entering Tuesday's NCAA second-round tilt with Auburn.

As a freshman, Taurasi became the league's first rookie to collect All-Big East Tournament MVP honors. She is also a three-time All-Big East first team selection (2002, 2003, & 2004).

She currently ranks fifth on the Connecticut career scoring list with her current total of 2,056 points and is second on the UConn career assist list at 629 - just eight assists shy Jennifer Rizzotti's career-best total of 637 entering Tuesday's night's NCAA second-round clash with Auburn.

Taurasi is also UConn's career leader in 3-point field goals with her current total of 305 and is the only player in UConn history to tally 2,000 points, 600 rebounds and 600 assists in a career.

The Naismith Award is presented annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The Naismith Board of Directors is comprised of former Naismith winners, NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball coaches, NCAA Division I Conference Commissioners and selected members of the media.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club was founded in 1956 as a way for Atlantans to share in a common bond - the love and enjoyment of basketball. It has a two-fold mission: to promote continued support for the game of basketball and to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting.