COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball junior Sophie Cunningham was named as one of the final 10 candidates for the 2018 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award. Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year, the annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
Cunningham is putting together her best season yet, captaining Mizzou to a No. 15 ranking. The junior is averaging a team-high 18.4 points per game, reaching double figures 18 times in 20 games and scoring at least 20 points on nine different occasions, including three times in the last four games.
Cunningham already ranks 13th on Mizzou's all-time scoring list with 1,356 points and counting. That's the fifth-most among active SEC players and she is the only player in the top five on that list that is not a senior. Cunningham is the only player in the nation shooting at least 84 percent from the free throw line, 45 percent from the three-point range and 54 percent from the field.
In November, Cunningham was named as one of 20 preseason candidates for the Cheryl Miller award and is now just one of two SEC players on the 2018 Cheryl Miller Award watch list. The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. The winner of the 2018 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award will be announced during ESPN2's telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women's Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30.
For more information on the 2018 Cheryl Miller Award, visit www.hoophallawards.com.
2018 Cheryl Miller Award Candidates
Gabby Williams Connecticut
Shakayla Thomas Florida St.
Jill Barta Gonzaga
Bridget Carleton Iowa St.
Kaila Charles Maryland
Sophie Cunningham Missouri
Jaime Nared Tennessee
Ariel Atkins Texas
Teana Muldrow West Virginia
Tashia Brown Western Kentucky
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2017-18 season*
Mizzou faces No. 2 Mississippi State on Thursday on the SEC Network. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Mizzou Arena. Tickets are available for purchase online at MUTigers.com.buytickets, over the phone at 1-800-CAT-PAWS or at the Mizzou Arena Ticket Office, which is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets beforehand to avoid lines.