INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Becoming the first ever two-time College and two-time Naismith High School Player of the Year, University of Connecticut Senior forward Maya Moore was named the 2011 Naismith College Women’s Player of the Year, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. Moore edged Nneka Ogwumike (Stanford), Danielle Adams (Texas A&M) and Brittney Griner (Baylor) on the final ballot. She was recognized by Kathy Betty and Mary Brock of the Atlanta Tipoff Club and Kris Rinne of AT&T at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Awards Banquet at the 2011 Women’s Final Four in Indianapolis.
In addition to the Naismith Trophy, Moore has also won national player of the year honors from the WBCA (Wade Trophy), the Associated Press, and the United States Basketball Writers Association. She was also honored as the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for women’s basketball.
Moore was selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s National Voting Academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, in addition to fan voting via text message, which accounted for 25 percent of the final results – more than any other national college basketball award. The voting academy based its criteria on player performances throughout the season. The vote was tabulated and certified by the accounting firm of Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP. HA&W is the largest independent accounting firm in Georgia and one of the top 50 firms in the United States.
“With this award, Maya’s basketball legacy becomes cemented alongside some of the best who have ever played the game,” said Eric Oberman, Executive Director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “She has accomplished something that no one else has done in the history of the Naismith awards, and the fact she’s an Atlantan means even more to our organization and our local community. We expect her to continue achieving great success as she furthers her playing career.”
Moore, the 2009 Naismith Trophy winner who also won consecutive national Naismith High School Girl’s Player of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007 at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga., has led the University of Connecticut Huskies to a 115-2 record over the past three seasons and led her team to the 2011 NCAA Div. I Women’s Basketball Final Four before falling to Notre Dame 63-72. The 2011 BIG EAST Player of the Year’s 3,036 career points are the most in UConn women’s history, and she also ranks second in made three-pointers (311) and rebounds (1,276).
“Maya Moore is a remarkable student-athlete and we’re honored to present her with the Naismith Trophy,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Fans demonstrated their support for Maya by texting in their votes and we’re pleased that we could provide the network to help make it happen. These votes accounted for 25 percent of the final Naismith Trophy tally.”
Other notable Naismith Trophy past winners include Cheryl Miller (USC), Candace Parker (Tennessee), Dawn Staley (Virginia) and last year’s winner, Tina Charles from UConn.
For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
