@MizzouWBB’s Porter Named to Lisa Leslie Award Preseason Watch List
11/10/2017 10:50:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The honor goes to the top center in NCAA Division I women’s basketball
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Friday that Mizzou junior forward Cierra Porter has been one of 20 players named to the 2018 Lisa Leslie Award Preseason Watch List. The annual honor in its inaugural year recognizes the top center in women's college basketball, and is named after Lisa Leslie, former USC and WNBA player. Leslie won four gold medals in Olympic competition and was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game.
Porter is one of five SEC players named to the watch list. The list will be narrowed down to 10 players in February, and five finalists will be selected in March. The winner of the award will be presented at the awards ceremony hosted by the Basketball Hall of Fame, Women's Basketball Coaches Association and ESPN at the NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.
Porter started all 33 games for the Tigers last season, leading the team in rebounds, rebounds per game and blocked shots. She scored in double figures in 26 of her 33 starts, reaching double figures in the first 15 contests of the season. She enters her junior season ranked sixth-all time in career free throw percentage at Mizzou and ninth all-time in career rebounding average.
Porter topped the SEC in total free throws made during the regular season with 141, which ranks ninth all-time in program history for a single season. Porter averaged 11.5 points and nine rebounds during the Tigers' trip to the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
Throughout the whole process, the list will be fluid and players will have the ability to play themselves on or off the list until the five finalists are announced.
Players Mentioned
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