STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior Alanna Smith has made the list of 10 candidates for the 2019 Katrina McClain Award, which recognizes the top power forward in women's college basketball.
A national committee comprising of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
The winner of the 2019 Katrina McClain Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
Smith remains on a laundry of watch lists in addition to the Katrina McClain Award, including the Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, Naismith Trophy and Senior CLASS Award, and has backed up that recognition with her play.
A two-time Pac-12 Player of the Week this season (Dec. 17 and Jan. 14) and the espnW and USBWA National Player of the Week from Dec. 17, Smith is shooting 52.4 percent from the field (174-of-332), 42.6 percent from behind the arc (55-of-129) and averaging a team-high 20.1 points per game to go with 7.9 rebounds.
Smith, who has double-doubles in six of her last 14 games, is one of two players in the country averaging 20.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game this season along with Princeton's Bella Alarie. She is on track on join Elena Delle Donne as the only players 6-foot-4 and taller over the past 20 years to shoot better than 40 percent from 3-point range for an entire season. Delle Donne made 41.3 percent as a freshman at Delaware in 2009-10 (NCAA minimum of two made 3-pointers per game).
The 6-foot-4 Smith is 17th in school history in scoring (1,466) and second in blocks (203) and has made 129 career 3-pointers. She is within range of joining an elite company of players that have put together careers of 1,600 points, 150 made triples and 200 blocks. Since 1999-00, the only three to do that are Delle Donne (3,039 points; 206 3-pointers; 273 blocks), Maya Moore (3,036 points; 311 3-pointers; 204 blocks) and Breanna Stewart (2,676 points; 152 3-pointers; 414 blocks).
Smith and the No. 10 Cardinal are on the road this weekend when they play at UCLA on Friday (6 p.m.) and USC on Sunday (noon).