Boston Named to Lisa Leslie Award Top 10
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Aliyah Boston is among those named to the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award Top 10, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today. She has won the award three times in its five years of existence recognizing the top centers in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
Boston continues to establish herself as the best player in the nation on both sides of the ball – in the paint and beyond. According to Her Hoop Stats, she is second in the nation in player defensive rating and is fourth in player offensive rating – both SEC-best numbers; and she is the only player in the country ranked in the top five of both categories. She ranks second in the country in win shares per 40 minutes as well.
Averaging a double-double on the season, Boston’s overall numbers (12.9 ppg, 10.0 rpg) go up against ranked opponents to 15.3 ppg and 12.5 rpg. After eight straight double-doubles, she is fifth in the nation with 15 on the season while her rebounding average is 25th, including 3.7 offensive boards per game, which ranks 19th. Defensively, she continues to shine with 2.1 blocks per game, which rank third in the SEC and 21st in the nation.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.
The winner of the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and the Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.
No. 1/1 South Carolina steps out of SEC action this weekend, traveling to No. 5/4 UConn for a noon tipoff on Sun., Feb. 5, in Hartford, Conn.
Stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the 2022-23 season ahead.
2023 Lisa Leslie Award Top 10
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Monika Czinano, Iowa
Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
Taiyanna Jackson, Kansas
Dorka Juhasz, UConn
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Alexis Markowski, Nebraska
Quay Miller, Colorado
Bella Murekatete, Washington State
