Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Tim Nwachukwu/NCAA Photos
Naismith Trophy makes it three watch lists this preseason for Utti
11/17/2020 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Fresno State's Maddi Utti picked up her third preseason watch list selection on Wednesday morning with the release of the 2021 Women's Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Watch List, announced today by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Overall, the list of 50 women's players represents 11 conferences with the Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC having nine players each.
Utti is one of 10 players outside of the Power 5 to be selected to the list, with four of those selections representing UConn.
The midseason 30 team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
Utti at a glance
Aliyah Boston, So., F, South Carolina, SEC
Sam Brunelle, So., F, Notre Dame, ACC
Paige Bueckers, Fr., G, UConn, BIG EAST
DiJonai Carrington, Sr., G, Baylor, Big 12
Jessika Carter, Jr., F/C, Mississippi St., SEC
Charli Collier, Jr., F/C, Texas, Big 12
Zia Cooke, So., G, South Carolina, SEC
Elissa Cunane, Jr., C, NC State, ACC
Rennia Davis, Sr., G/F, Tennessee, SEC
Chelsea Dungee, Sr., G, Arkansas, SEC
Dana Evans, Sr., G, Louisville, ACC
Aleah Goodman, Sr., G, Oregon State, Pac-12
Vivian Gray, Sr., G, Texas Tech, Big 12
Arella Guirantes, Sr., G, Rutgers, Big Ten
Lauren Heard, Sr., G, TCU, Big 12
Lexi Held, Jr., G, DePaul, BIG EAST
Naz Hillmon, Jr., F, Michigan, Big Ten
Rhyne Howard, Jr., G, Kentucky, SEC
Lexie Hull, Jr., G, Stanford, Pac-12
Rickea Jackson, So., F, Mississippi St., SEC
Ashley Joens, Jr., G/F, Iowa State, Big 12
Haley Jones, So., G, Stanford, Pac-12
N'Dea Jones, Sr., F, Texas A&M, SEC
Taylor Jones, So., F, Oregon State, Pac-12
Dorka Juhász, Jr., F, Ohio State, Big Ten
Ayoka Lee, So., C, Kansas State, Big 12
Kiara Lewis, Sr., G, Syracuse, ACC
Natasha Mack, Sr., F, Oklahoma State, Big 12
Tiana Mangakahia, Sr., G, Syracuse, ACC
Aari McDonald, Sr., G, Arizona, Pac-12
Nancy Mulkey, Sr., C, Rice, C-USA
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jr., F, UConn, BIG EAST
Michaela Onyenwere, Sr., F, UCLA, Pac-12
Ashley Owusu, So., G, Maryland, Big Ten
Ali Patberg, Sr., G, Indiana, Big Ten
Chelsey Perry, Sr., F, Tennessee-Martin, OVC
Lasha Petree, Jr., G, Bradley, MVC
Alissa Pili, So., F, USC, Pac-12
Lindsey Pulliam, Sr., G, Northwestern, Big Ten
Cate Reese, Jr., F Arizona, Pac-12
DiDi Richards, Sr., G, Baylor, Big 12
Destiny Slocum, Sr., G, Arkansas, SEC
NaLyssa Smith, Jr., F, Baylor, Big 12
Taylor Soule, Jr., F, Boston College, ACC
Jill Townsend, Sr., G, Gonzaga, WCC
Maddi Utti, Sr., F, Fresno St., MWC
Hailey Van Lith, Fr., G, Louisville, ACC
Evina Westbrook, Jr., G, UConn, BIG EAST
Christyn Williams, Jr., G, UConn, BIG EAST
Kiana Williams, Sr., G, Stanford, Pac-12
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 most outstanding 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 Jersey Mike's 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 Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS
Jersey Mike's Subs, with more than 2,500 locations open and under development nationwide, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike's local communities is reflective in its mission statement "Giving...making a difference in someone's life." For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/jerseymikes), Instagram (instagram.com/jerseymikes), and Twitter (twitter.com/jerseymikes.com).
"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
Utti is one of 10 players outside of the Power 5 to be selected to the list, with four of those selections representing UConn.
The midseason 30 team will be announced in early February; players who do not make the watch list are still eligible to be selected for the midseason 30 team. Then, the competition will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists on March 2, 2021, and four finalists will be named on March 19, 2021. The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on April 3, 2021.
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.
Aliyah Boston, So., F, South Carolina, SEC
Sam Brunelle, So., F, Notre Dame, ACC
Paige Bueckers, Fr., G, UConn, BIG EAST
DiJonai Carrington, Sr., G, Baylor, Big 12
Jessika Carter, Jr., F/C, Mississippi St., SEC
Charli Collier, Jr., F/C, Texas, Big 12
Zia Cooke, So., G, South Carolina, SEC
Elissa Cunane, Jr., C, NC State, ACC
Rennia Davis, Sr., G/F, Tennessee, SEC
Chelsea Dungee, Sr., G, Arkansas, SEC
Dana Evans, Sr., G, Louisville, ACC
Aleah Goodman, Sr., G, Oregon State, Pac-12
Vivian Gray, Sr., G, Texas Tech, Big 12
Arella Guirantes, Sr., G, Rutgers, Big Ten
Lauren Heard, Sr., G, TCU, Big 12
Lexi Held, Jr., G, DePaul, BIG EAST
Naz Hillmon, Jr., F, Michigan, Big Ten
Rhyne Howard, Jr., G, Kentucky, SEC
Lexie Hull, Jr., G, Stanford, Pac-12
Rickea Jackson, So., F, Mississippi St., SEC
Ashley Joens, Jr., G/F, Iowa State, Big 12
Haley Jones, So., G, Stanford, Pac-12
N'Dea Jones, Sr., F, Texas A&M, SEC
Taylor Jones, So., F, Oregon State, Pac-12
Dorka Juhász, Jr., F, Ohio State, Big Ten
Ayoka Lee, So., C, Kansas State, Big 12
Kiara Lewis, Sr., G, Syracuse, ACC
Natasha Mack, Sr., F, Oklahoma State, Big 12
Tiana Mangakahia, Sr., G, Syracuse, ACC
Aari McDonald, Sr., G, Arizona, Pac-12
Nancy Mulkey, Sr., C, Rice, C-USA
Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jr., F, UConn, BIG EAST
Michaela Onyenwere, Sr., F, UCLA, Pac-12
Ashley Owusu, So., G, Maryland, Big Ten
Ali Patberg, Sr., G, Indiana, Big Ten
Chelsey Perry, Sr., F, Tennessee-Martin, OVC
Lasha Petree, Jr., G, Bradley, MVC
Alissa Pili, So., F, USC, Pac-12
Lindsey Pulliam, Sr., G, Northwestern, Big Ten
Cate Reese, Jr., F Arizona, Pac-12
DiDi Richards, Sr., G, Baylor, Big 12
Destiny Slocum, Sr., G, Arkansas, SEC
NaLyssa Smith, Jr., F, Baylor, Big 12
Taylor Soule, Jr., F, Boston College, ACC
Jill Townsend, Sr., G, Gonzaga, WCC
Maddi Utti, Sr., F, Fresno St., MWC
Hailey Van Lith, Fr., G, Louisville, ACC
Evina Westbrook, Jr., G, UConn, BIG EAST
Christyn Williams, Jr., G, UConn, BIG EAST
Kiana Williams, Sr., G, Stanford, Pac-12
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 most outstanding 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 Jersey Mike's 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 Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS
Jersey Mike's Subs, with more than 2,500 locations open and under development nationwide, serves authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike's local communities is reflective in its mission statement "Giving...making a difference in someone's life." For more information, please visit jerseymikes.com or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/jerseymikes), Instagram (instagram.com/jerseymikes), and Twitter (twitter.com/jerseymikes.com).
"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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