Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Utti tabbed to Katrina McClain Award watch list
11/12/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — For the second straight day, Fresno State's Maddi Utti was named to a national watch list as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today the 20 watch list candidates for the 2021 Katrina McClain Award. Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its fourth year recognizes the top power forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award include Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2020), Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019) and Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018).
Today's selection for Utti comes a day after being named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award watch list.
Utti at a glance
2021 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Jasmine Walker, Alabama
Cate Reese, Arizona
Unique Thompson, Auburn
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Maddi Utti, Fresno State
Natalie Kucowski, Lafayette
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Sam Brunelle, Notre Dame
Natasha Mack, Oklahoma State
Taylor Jones, Oregon State
Brooklyn McDavid, Pacific
Bethy Mununga, South Florida
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Francesca Belibi, Stanford
N'dea Jones, Texas A&M
Alissa Pili, USC
Chelsey Perry, UT Martin
Maddy Siegrist, Villanova
Raneem Elgedawy, Western Kentucky
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-21 season
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies ineach of the three rounds. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner of the 2021 Katrina McClain Power Forward Award will be presented on Friday, April 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
About Katrina McClain-Pittman:
Katrina McClain-Pittman was a prolific rebounder and terrific scorer in a career that spanned three Olympic Games and three continents. Before she earned her stripes for USA Basketball, McClain- Pittman starred at the University of Georgia where she was a two-time Kodak All-American and the WBCA National Player of the Year her senior season. She left Georgia as the school's second all-time leading scorer and rebounder, averaging a double-double her final two seasons in Athens. The Lady Bulldogs reached the 1985 NCAA Final Four and national championship game with McClain-Pittman controlling the paint and Teresa Edwards running the offense. The two-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year finished her international career with two Olympic gold medals and one bronze, three FIBA World Championships medals, and five medals at the Goodwill Games, Pan Am Games, and World University Games. In all, McClain-Pittman appeared on eleven USA Basketball rosters becoming one of the most decorated athletes in USA Basketball history. She has been inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, the Georgia State Hall of Fame, and the National High School Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women and girls; basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: www.WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981 or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo & "Court of Dreams"; Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877- 4HOOPLA.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram: fresnostwbb
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Previous winners of the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award include Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2020), Napheesa Collier, Connecticut (2019) and Ruthy Hebard, Oregon (2018).
Today's selection for Utti comes a day after being named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award watch list.
Utti at a glance
- Named 2020 Mountain West Player of the Year, one of only three non-seniors to earn POY honors in the MW during the last 10 years.
- Named to first All-MW team in 2020 after earning honorable mention in 2019.
- Selected to MW All-Defensive Team in back-to-back seasons (2019 & 2020).
- One of five players in the NCAA in 2019-20 to average at least 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals per game.
- Only player in the conference to rank in the top three in scoring (15.9 ppg), rebounding (8.9 rpg) and steals (2.3 spg) in 2020.
- Led the Mountain West in made field goals (212), steals (73) and steals per game (2.3) in 2020.
- Also ranked in the top five in the conference in points per game (3rd - 15.9 ppg), field goal percentage (3rd - 51.5), rebounds per game (3rd – 8.9 rpg), total rebounds (3rd – 284), double-doubles (3rd – 11), double-digit rebounding games (3rd – 11), 20-point games (4th – 9), offensive rebounding (5th – 2.6 rpg) and defensive rebounding (2nd – 6.3 rpg).
- Finished 2019-20 ranked in the top 55 in the country in made field goals (24th), total steals (35th), total rebounds (45th), double-doubles (45th) field goal percentage (54th) and steals per game (55th).
- Ranks 16th in Fresno State history in scoring (1,200 points), 2nd in field goal percentage (.539), 9th in total rebounds (705), 5th in rebounds per game (7.34), 10th in total steals (179) and 9th in steals per game (1.9).
- One of six returning players from 2020 All-MW team, and one of three returning Bulldogs from that postseason team.
- Has started the last 90 straight games for the Bulldogs, and 93 of 96 in her career.
2021 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Jasmine Walker, Alabama
Cate Reese, Arizona
Unique Thompson, Auburn
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Maddi Utti, Fresno State
Natalie Kucowski, Lafayette
Naz Hillmon, Michigan
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Sam Brunelle, Notre Dame
Natasha Mack, Oklahoma State
Taylor Jones, Oregon State
Brooklyn McDavid, Pacific
Bethy Mununga, South Florida
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Francesca Belibi, Stanford
N'dea Jones, Texas A&M
Alissa Pili, USC
Chelsey Perry, UT Martin
Maddy Siegrist, Villanova
Raneem Elgedawy, Western Kentucky
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-21 season
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies ineach of the three rounds. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
The winner of the 2021 Katrina McClain Power Forward Award will be presented on Friday, April 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
About Katrina McClain-Pittman:
Katrina McClain-Pittman was a prolific rebounder and terrific scorer in a career that spanned three Olympic Games and three continents. Before she earned her stripes for USA Basketball, McClain- Pittman starred at the University of Georgia where she was a two-time Kodak All-American and the WBCA National Player of the Year her senior season. She left Georgia as the school's second all-time leading scorer and rebounder, averaging a double-double her final two seasons in Athens. The Lady Bulldogs reached the 1985 NCAA Final Four and national championship game with McClain-Pittman controlling the paint and Teresa Edwards running the offense. The two-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year finished her international career with two Olympic gold medals and one bronze, three FIBA World Championships medals, and five medals at the Goodwill Games, Pan Am Games, and World University Games. In all, McClain-Pittman appeared on eleven USA Basketball rosters becoming one of the most decorated athletes in USA Basketball history. She has been inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, the Georgia State Hall of Fame, and the National High School Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women and girls; basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: www.WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981 or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo & "Court of Dreams"; Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877- 4HOOPLA.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateWBB
Instagram: fresnostwbb
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
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