STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford senior Alanna Smith is one of five finalists for the 2019 Katrina McClain Award, which recognizes the top power forward in women's college basketball.
A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 student-athletes in October, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February and now just five finalists. This month, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.HoophallAwards.com to cast their votes March 15-29.
Smith is joined on the list of finalists by Lauren Cox (Baylor), Reyna Frost (Central Michigan), Napheesa Collier (Connecticut) and Ruth Hebard (Oregon). The winner of the 2019 Katrina McClain Award will be revealed during the WBCA Coaches' All-America/Naismith Starting 5 Presentation on Thursday, April 4 at the Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
A psychology major with a 3.47 cumulative GPA, last week Smith was named the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year and this past Monday she became the program's 10th academic All-American when she was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-American Division I second team.
On Sunday, Smith led Stanford to its 13th Pac-12 Tournament title with a 64-57 win over Oregon in Las Vegas. She was named the tournament's most outstanding player after posting double-doubles in each of the Cardinal's three wins and averaging 18.7 points and 12.3 rebounds.
Smith is on every major women's basketball watch list in addition to the Katrina McClain Award, including the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Wade Trophy and Senior CLASS Award, and has backed up that recognition with her play. She is shooting 51.2 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from behind the arc and averaging a team-high 19.6 points per game to go with 8.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Smith, who averaged 20.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 18 Pac-12 games this season, was one of two players in the country to average 20.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in conference. She is also one of two nationally averaging 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game overall and is attempting to become just the fifth player in program history to average 20.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in a season, joining Chiney Ogwumike (2013-14 and 2012-13), Nneka Ogwumike (2011-12), Nicole Powell (2003-04) and Jeanne Ruark Hoff (1979-80 and 1978-79).
The 6-foot-4 Smith is 12th in school history in scoring (1,632) and second in blocks (223) and has made 147 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, who has 73 triples, 76 blocks and 628 points is the only NCAA women's basketball player to accumulate 70 3-pointers, 70 blocks and 600 points in a season in the last 20 years. It has been done once on the men's side during that span, by Shane Battier for Duke in 2000-01 (124 3-pointers; 88 blocks; 778 points).
Her 76 rejections this year are second in Stanford history behind Jayne Appel's 84 in 2007-08.