Here’s the release from UConn that announces that UConn Huskies women’s basketball senior Tiffany Hayes being named to the Wooden Award’s Final Ballot for the 2011-12 season.

STORRS, Conn.- The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced the final ballot for the 2011-12 John R. Wooden Award on Wednesday afternoon and UConn’s senior guard Tiffany Hayes is the lone Husky on the list of 15. The National Ballot, consisting of these top players, will be mailed to Wooden Award voters this week, and voting begins March 12th. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the ballot is made up of 15 student-athletes who are the final contenders for women’s college basketball’s most prestigious honor.

UConn's Tiffany Hayes shoots over Notre Dame's Natalie Achonwa in the Big East championship game at the XL Center in Hartford Tuesday night.Hayes was selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team after leading the Huskies in scoring (15.1 ppg) and steals (2.6 spg) as she is second in rebounding with 5.7 grabs per game. Hayes and Green Bay’s Julie Wojta were the only players who were not on the midseason Wooden Award list, but who made the ballot.

The BIG EAST has two on the final ballot as Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins joins Hayes on the list.

The 36th annual Wooden Award Gala, will take place on Friday, April 6, 2012, and will honor winners, All Americans, and the Legends of Coaching honoree Geno Auriemma of Connecticut. The Women’s John R. Wooden Award winner will be announced at the Gala event.

For a full look at the final 15 candidates, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Name

Ht.

Yr.

Pos.

University

Conference

Elena Delle Donne

6-5

Jr.

F/G

Delaware

CAA

Skylar Diggins

5-9

Jr.

G

Notre Dame

Big East

Brittney Griner*

6-8

Jr.

C

Baylor

Big 12

Tiffany Hayes

5-10

Sr.

G

Connecticut

Big East

Shenise Johnson

5-11

Sr.

G

Miami

ACC

A’dia Mathies

5-9

Jr.

G

Kentucky

SEC

Chiney Ogwumike

6-3

So.

F

Stanford

Pac-12

Nnemkadi Ogwumike*#

6-2

Sr.

F

Stanford

Pac-12

Samantha Prahalis

5-7

Sr.

G

Ohio State

Big Ten

Odyssey Sims

5-9

So.

G

Baylor

Big 12

Shekinna Stricklen

6-2

Sr.

G/F

Tennessee

SEC

Alyssa Thomas

6-2

So.

F

Maryland

ACC

Elizabeth Williams

6-3

Fr.

C

Duke

ACC

Riquna Williams

5-7

Sr.

G

Miami

ACC

Julie Wojta

6-0

Sr.

G/F

Green Bay

Horizon

(Players listed alphabetically)
*indicates player was 2011 Wooden Award All American
#indicates player was 2010 Wooden Award All American

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Photo credit: Cloe Poisson – Hartford Courant