@MizzouWBB’s Cunningham Named a Top-10 Candidate for the Cheryl Miller Award
2/13/2019 10:54:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Cunningham on watch lists for four national honors
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women's Basketball senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) has named a top-10 candidate for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award, announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on Wednesday. The annual award is in its second year and recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
A national committee of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers will narrow the watch list candidates down five finalists by March. From there, fans will then have the chance to vote for their favorite finalist as the winner will be revealed during the Final Four weekend in Tampa, Florida.
The watch list is the fourth national honor Cunningham's name has appeared on, as she is a top-20 candidate for the Wooden Award, a top-30 candidate for the Naismith Award, and a top-41 athlete for the Wade Trophy.
Cunningham has been on a recent scoring-tear, as she has averaged 22.4 points per game over her last seven contests with five 20-point games. Cunningham scored 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds and matched a career-high with seven three-pointers in Mizzou's 69-46 win over Vanderbilt on Sunday. It marked the 11th time this season and the 44th time in her career she has reached 20 points, as Mizzou moved to 10-1 in games this season in which she has scored 20+ points. Earlier in the week, the Tiger senior led Mizzou to a 70-65 overtime victory over No. 18 Texas A&M on Thursday, as Cunningham notched her 12th career double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
The Tiger senior ranks near the top of numerous statistical categories in the SEC, as she ranks fourth in three-point percentage (42.9 percent), fifth in scoring (17.1 ppg), fifth in three-pointers made (2.4) sixth in field goal percentage (49.5 percent), seventh in free throw percentage (79.7 percent). In conference games only, Cunningham leads the SEC in three-point percentage (54.7 percent) and three-pointers made per game (3.2), and ranks third in scoring (18.7 ppg), third in field goal percentage (55.8 percent), sixth in free throw percentage (87.8 percent).
Cunningham is the SEC career active scoring leader with 1,991 points, and ranks sixth in career rebounds (646) and seventh in assists (363). Among program records, Cunningham currently ranks second in career three-point percentage (.407), third in scoring (1,991 points), third in free throws made (480), third in free throw percentage (.830), third in three-pointers made (213), fourth in career points per game (16.7) and fifth in assists (363).
Mizzou hits the road this week for a matchup with No. 5 Mississippi State on Thursday before returning home to Mizzou Arena on Sunday to host Tennessee.
For all the latest on Mizzou Women's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouWBB (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
