Cuevas-Moore Named to Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List

Nov. 6, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” South Carolina senior guard Bianca Cuevas-Moore earned a spot on the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List Monday as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame tapped the top 20 female collegiate point guards in the nation. The award, in its 19th season, recognizes the point guard who exhibits the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.

Cuevas-Moore has been the Gamecocks’ leading spark off the bench for the last few seasons, bringing a dynamic change of pace and aggressiveness to the position. A fan favorite for her quick hands and even quicker offensive moves, the senior from Bronx, N.Y., averaged 8.3 points last season. After starting for the early part of the season, Cuevas-Moore returned to her bench role during SEC play, and the move sparked her offensive creativity as her scoring average rose to 9.5 points in league play, during which she shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range. In her career, she has 27 double-digit scoring games to go with 18 games in which she led the team in assists.

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. By mid-February the watch list of 20 players for the 2018 Lieberman Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist. The winner of the 2018 Lieberman Award will be announced at an inaugural 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. ESPN broadcast information will be released at a later date.

Reigning National Champion South Carolina opens the 2017-18 regular season on Fri., Nov. 10, taking on Alabama State at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena. The No. 4/2 Gamecocks will unveil their championship banner and receive their 2017 SEC championship rings prior to the game.

Season tickets are still available, starting at $35 for general admission seating. Single-game tickets are also now on sale, beginning at $9 for adults and $5 for youth. Fans can purchase tickets online at GamecocksOnline.com or by calling the South Carolina Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-4SC-FANS (472-3267).

2018 Nancy Lieberman Award Candidates
Kennedy Leonard, Colorado
Kia Nurse, Connecticut
Lexie Brown, Duke
Tianna Tarter, East Tennessee State
Loren Cagle, Lipscomb
Sydni Means, Mercer
Katelynn Flaherty, Michigan
Kenisha Bell, Minnesota
Morgan William, Mississippi State
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Teniya Page, Penn State
Jackie Kemph, Saint Louis
Bianca Cuevas-Moore, South Carolina
Jessica Kovatch, St. Francis (PA)
Brooke McCarty, Texas
Jordin Canada, UCLA
Chanette Hicks, Virginia Tech
Emily Clemens, Western Illinois
Deja Wimby, Western Michigan