Boston Named to Lisa Leslie Award Watch List
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore Aliyah Boston was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today. Named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its fourth season recognizes the top center in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
The reigning Lisa Leslie Award winner and National Freshman of the Year, Boston wasted little time making a name for herself in college women’s basketball. She became just the second Gamecock freshman to earn All-America recognition and posted the first college-debut triple-double in NCAA Div. I history. Starting all 33 games for the eventual No. 1 team in the country, Boston shined brightest on the biggest stages, averaging a double-double (13.0 ppg/10.9 rpg) in 14 games against nationally ranked opponents and in SEC play (13.1 ppg/10.3 rpg) to help the Gamecocks to SEC Regular-Season and Tournament titles. A model of consistency, she ranked sixth in the nation in field goal percentage (.608) and was held under double-figure points just five times. She impacted the game on both ends of the floor, ranking 21st in the nation and second in the SEC in blocks per game (2.61) en route to SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.
The winner of the 2021 Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award will be presented on Fri., Apr. 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award, in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.
The Gamecocks are slated to open the 2020-21 season on Wed., Nov. 25, at Colonial Life Arena against College Charleston. With COVID-19 regulations limiting capacity at Colonial Life Arena to 3,500, South Carolina has already sold out of tickets for the season, but plenty of opportunities for fans to engage with the team and participate in game day remain.
Fans can join the G-Hive, which this season includes access to live video streams of practice periodically throughout the regular season in addition to three theme-based t-shirts and a facial covering and a 2021 calendar, for $100. Game-day opportunities include purchasing a cutout to sit in a seat at Colonial Life Arena, participating in a Virtual Sellout or supporting the team from home with a Basketball Watch Party Pack, which includes a rally towel, 3-point cards and an exclusive link to watch the team’s intro video.
Stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the 2020-21 season ahead.
2021 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
The reigning Lisa Leslie Award winner and National Freshman of the Year, Boston wasted little time making a name for herself in college women’s basketball. She became just the second Gamecock freshman to earn All-America recognition and posted the first college-debut triple-double in NCAA Div. I history. Starting all 33 games for the eventual No. 1 team in the country, Boston shined brightest on the biggest stages, averaging a double-double (13.0 ppg/10.9 rpg) in 14 games against nationally ranked opponents and in SEC play (13.1 ppg/10.3 rpg) to help the Gamecocks to SEC Regular-Season and Tournament titles. A model of consistency, she ranked sixth in the nation in field goal percentage (.608) and was held under double-figure points just five times. She impacted the game on both ends of the floor, ranking 21st in the nation and second in the SEC in blocks per game (2.61) en route to SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.
The winner of the 2021 Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award will be presented on Fri., Apr. 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award, in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.
The Gamecocks are slated to open the 2020-21 season on Wed., Nov. 25, at Colonial Life Arena against College Charleston. With COVID-19 regulations limiting capacity at Colonial Life Arena to 3,500, South Carolina has already sold out of tickets for the season, but plenty of opportunities for fans to engage with the team and participate in game day remain.
Fans can join the G-Hive, which this season includes access to live video streams of practice periodically throughout the regular season in addition to three theme-based t-shirts and a facial covering and a 2021 calendar, for $100. Game-day opportunities include purchasing a cutout to sit in a seat at Colonial Life Arena, participating in a Virtual Sellout or supporting the team from home with a Basketball Watch Party Pack, which includes a rally towel, 3-point cards and an exclusive link to watch the team’s intro video.
Stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the 2020-21 season ahead.
2021 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates
Queen Egbo, Baylor
Hannah Gusters, Baylor
Sara Hamson, BYU
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, UConn
Jade Williams, Duke
Kristin Scott, Iowa State
Ameshya Williams, Jackson State
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Shakira Austin, Ole Miss
Elissa Cunane, NC State
Kate Cain, Nebraska
Janelle Bailey, North Carolina
Eleah Parker, Penn
Nancy Mulkey, Rice
Kamilla Cardowo, Syracuse
Antoinette Lewis, South Alabama
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Charli Collier, Texas
Ila Lane, UC Santa Barbara
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
