Laksa Selected to Women’s Citizen Naismith Trophy Watch List
ATLANTA, NOV. 12, 2018 –Senior USF women's basketball player
Kitija Laksa has been selected to the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year 50 candidates to watch list, announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Monday.
This is the second consecutive year Laksa was named to the 50-woman watchlist, and the list will be narrowed down to 30 midseason members on Feb. 11, 2019. Ten national semifinalists will be announced on March 4, 2019, and four finalists will be named on March 22, 2019. The winner of the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 6, 2019, during the Women's Final Four hosted by USF and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Laksa is one of five American Athletic Conference players selected to the watch list, the remaining four hail from UConn.
"These 50 talented candidates are the ones to watch, and the competition for the 2019 Women's Citizen Naismith Trophy will heat up as more players enter the competition throughout the season," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "We are excited to watch these women play as they have another great year of college basketball ahead of them."
Laksa is a two time honorable mention WBCA All-American and broke the sophomore scoring record at USF in 2016-17 and the junior scoring record in 2017-18. She set two NCAA records last season, shooting 96.5 percent from the free-throw-line on the year for the best yet across the NCAA, and made 11 consecutive three-pointers in a game last winter for her second record.
She has been named a Preseason American Athletic Conference first teamer, a unanimous decision by the AAC coaches. Laksa has now been named to the Ann Meyers Drysadale Award Preseason Watch List, the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Watch List, and the Citizen Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year Watch List.
2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy Women's Watch List
| NAME |
CLASS |
POSITION |
SCHOOL |
CONFERENCE |
| Kristine Anigwe |
Sr. |
C/F |
California |
Pac-12 |
| Kenisha Bell |
Sr. |
G |
Minnesota |
Big Ten |
| Allazia Blockton |
Sr. |
G |
Marquette |
BIG EAST |
| Kalani Brown |
Sr. |
C |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
| Kelly Campbell |
Jr. |
G |
DePaul |
BIG EAST |
| Bridget Carleton |
Sr. |
G |
Iowa State |
Big 12 |
| Chennedy Carter |
So. |
G |
Texas A&M |
SEC |
| Kaila Charles |
Jr. |
G |
Maryland |
Big Ten |
| Napheesa Collier |
Sr. |
F |
UConn |
AAC |
| Lauren Cox |
Jr. |
F |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
| Sophie Cunningham |
Sr. |
G |
Missouri |
SEC |
| Crystal Dangerfield |
Jr. |
G |
UConn |
AAC |
| Naomi Davenport |
Sr. |
G/F |
West Virginia |
Big 12 |
| Rennia Davis |
So. |
G/F |
Tennessee |
SEC |
| Cierra Dillard |
Sr. |
G |
Buffalo |
MAC |
| Asia Durr |
Sr. |
G |
Louisville |
ACC |
| Sam Fuehring |
Sr. |
F |
Louisville |
ACC |
| Megan Gustafson |
Sr. |
F |
Iowa |
Big Ten |
| Tyasha Harris |
Jr. |
G |
South Carolina |
SEC |
| Ruthy Hebard |
Jr. |
F |
Oregon |
Pac-12 |
| Lashann Higgs |
Sr. |
G |
Texas |
Big 12 |
| Joyner Holmes |
Jr. |
G/F |
Texas |
Big 12 |
| Anriel Howard |
Sr. |
F |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
| Sabrina Ionescu |
Jr. |
G |
Oregon |
Pac-12 |
| Chloe Jackson |
Sr. |
G |
Baylor |
Big 12 |
| Alexis Jennings |
Sr. |
F |
South Carolina |
SEC |
| Paris Kea |
Sr. |
G |
North Carolina |
ACC |
| Kitija Laksa |
Sr. |
W |
South Florida |
AAC |
| Kennedy Leonard |
Sr. |
G |
Colorado |
Pac-12 |
| Marina Mabrey |
Sr. |
G |
Notre Dame |
ACC |
| Tiana Mangakahia |
Jr. |
G |
Syracuse |
ACC |
| Tynice Martin |
Jr. |
G |
West Virginia |
Big 12 |
| Teaira McCowan |
Sr. |
C |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
| Beatrice Mompremier |
Jr. |
F |
Miami |
ACC |
| Mariya Moore |
Sr. |
G |
USC |
Pac-12 |
| Maci Morris |
Sr. |
G |
Kentucky |
SEC |
| Leaonna Odom |
Jr. |
F |
Duke |
ACC |
| Arike Ogunbowale |
Sr. |
G |
Notre Dame |
ACC |
| Teniya Page |
Sr. |
G |
Penn State |
Big Ten |
| Caliya Robinson |
Sr. |
F |
Georgia |
SEC |
| Satou Sabally |
So. |
F |
Oregon |
Pac-12 |
| Katie Lou Samuelson |
Sr. |
G/F |
UConn |
AAC |
| Jessica Shepard |
Sr. |
F |
Notre Dame |
ACC |
| Destiny Slocum |
So. |
G |
Oregon State |
Pac-12 |
| Alanna Smith |
Sr. |
F |
Stanford |
Pac-12 |
| Hallie Thome |
Sr. |
C |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
| Brianna Turner |
Sr. |
F |
Notre Dame |
ACC |
| Evina Westbrook |
So. |
G |
Tennessee |
SEC |
| Kiana Williams |
So. |
G |
Stanford |
Pac-12 |
| Jackie Young |
Jr. |
G |
Notre Dame |
ACC |
About the Atlanta Tipoff Club
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the top men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Citizen Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include the Citizen Watch Company, Werner Ladder and Bona.
About Citizen
Citizen, a pioneer in watchmaking and innovative technology since 1918, promotes excellence and creativity with a deep-rooted respect for craftsmanship. Citizen advocates "Better Starts Now," searching for and accomplishing goals that are cause driven. In this respect, Citizen aligns with organizations and personalities that reflect the values of the brand including the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, Naismith Awards, National Merit Scholarship, and Good360.
For over 40 years, Citizen's Eco-Drive technology has served as the prime example of how the brand is dedicated to making the world and its environment a better place. A simple yet revolutionary concept, Eco-Drive harnesses the power of light from any natural or artificial light source and converts it into energy, eliminating the need for any battery replacement.
About Kitija Laksa
With USF, Laksa broke the junior scoring record with 717 points in her junior season. She set two NCAA records in 2017-18, including free-throw percentage with 96.5 percent efficiency, and consecutive three-pointers made in a game with 11 on Dec. 15, 2017. The Riga, Latvia native averaged 21.1 points per game on the year and returns in 2018-19 as the Bulls' leading scorer for her senior season.
Laksa currently ranks sixth in program history on the all-time scoring list, amassing 1,715 points in her career. She will chase the all-time scoring record at USF in 2018-19, currently held by Jessica Dickson (2003-07) with 2,402 points.
-- #AllAmeriKit --
About USF Women's Basketball
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USF notched its sixth consecutive 20-win season and fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017-18. It marked the ninth 20-win season in program history, with head coach Jose Fernandez at the helm for all nine. The Bulls posted 26 wins in 2017-18, just shy of the program record of 27 set in 2008-09 and 2014-15.
USF has made 14 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 18 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 300 games.
--#GoBulls –
