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Vandy’s Ashley Earley Named to Naismith Trophy List
2/22/2005
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Senior forward Ashley Earley has been named a mid-season candidate for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless. Earley is one of five players from the Southeastern Conference named to the list.
Thirty of the country’s top collegiate women’s basketball players were named as mid-season candidates for the Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the men’s and women’s players of the year. The Top 30 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season. The list was narrowed down from the pre-season list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season.
Earley, a 5-10, forward from Memphis, Tenn. has made a big impact during her senior season for the Commodores. She leads the team averaging 18.8 points 9.3 rebounds and has been most effective in road games where she’s averaging 21.7 points and 11.5 rebounds. In SEC play, she averages 18.2 points and 9.9 rebounds. Earley already has 11 double-doubles on the season and became the 24th player in VU history to reach the 1,000 point plateau. She now has 1,262, which ranks 16th all-time. It is the second midseason honor for Earley, who has been named a 2005 candidate for the John R. Wooden Award.
“These women represent the best college players in the nation,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. “The Atlanta Tipoff Club looks forward to seeing which player distinguishes themselves among all others to raise the Naismith Trophy in April.”
As part of its involvement, Cingular is making this year’s selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans have a voice in deciding who wins the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless through the power and ease of wireless text messaging.
“Each of these candidates for player of the year is an exceptional talent and would make an outstanding ambassador for the Naismith Trophy,” said Marc Lefar, chief marketing officer for Cingular. “Cingular is proud to give women’s college basketball fans a voice in the voting process.”
These players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March when four finalists for the Naismith Trophy are announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors.
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