Tyasha Harris Named Lieberman Award Finalist
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina junior Tyasha Harris (Noblesville, Ind./Heritage Christian) is one of five finalists for the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today. The award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball, who exhibits the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skill of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
This season, Harris averages 11.1 points and 5.3 assist, which translates to having her hands on more than 30 percent of the Gamecocks’ offense. She is second in the SEC and 31st in the nation in assists per game, and her 3.02 assist-to-turnover ratio is 12th in the country. Both her scoring and assists skyrocketed late in the season as she posted three double-doubles over the last six games and netted at least 20 points in two other games in that stretch to average 15.0 points and 8.3 assists. Her rebounding and steal numbers also jumped in that late-season surge with 4.5 rebounds (from 3.5) and 1.8 steals (from 1.4) per game.
The SEC active leader in career assists, Harris’ 497 career assists leave her just one shy of the program’s all-time top five in the category. Her nine career points-assists double-doubles are tied for the program record, and she holds the South Carolina record for career assists in SEC games at 263.
The selection committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top college women’s basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.hoophallawards.com to cast their votes March 15-29. The winner will be revealed in partnership with the WBCA at the College Women’s Basketball Award Show at the 2019 Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
The No. 12/13 Gamecocks await their NCAA Tournament assignment, which they will get on Mon., March 18, during the selection show airing on ESPN at 7 p.m.
2019 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Finalists
This season, Harris averages 11.1 points and 5.3 assist, which translates to having her hands on more than 30 percent of the Gamecocks’ offense. She is second in the SEC and 31st in the nation in assists per game, and her 3.02 assist-to-turnover ratio is 12th in the country. Both her scoring and assists skyrocketed late in the season as she posted three double-doubles over the last six games and netted at least 20 points in two other games in that stretch to average 15.0 points and 8.3 assists. Her rebounding and steal numbers also jumped in that late-season surge with 4.5 rebounds (from 3.5) and 1.8 steals (from 1.4) per game.
The SEC active leader in career assists, Harris’ 497 career assists leave her just one shy of the program’s all-time top five in the category. Her nine career points-assists double-doubles are tied for the program record, and she holds the South Carolina record for career assists in SEC games at 263.
The selection committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top college women’s basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.hoophallawards.com to cast their votes March 15-29. The winner will be revealed in partnership with the WBCA at the College Women’s Basketball Award Show at the 2019 Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
The No. 12/13 Gamecocks await their NCAA Tournament assignment, which they will get on Mon., March 18, during the selection show airing on ESPN at 7 p.m.
2019 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Finalists
Crystal Dangerfield, Connecticut
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Destiny Slocum, Oregon State
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse
