March 14, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State Lady Lion junior Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.) is one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, it was announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club today. Lucas is the lone representative of the Big Ten. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the ballot is made up of 15 student-athletes who have proven to their universities that they are making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
Lucas garnered 2013 Big Ten Player of the Year accolades after averaging 20.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In addition, Lucas was a first team All-Big Ten selection for the second time in her career, including being a unanimous choice by the Big Ten coaches this season. She is among the nation's leaders in three-point field goal shooting, ranking fourth in percentage (.475) and seventh in three-pointers made per game (3.2). She also ranks 13th in NCAA Division I in scoring and 10th in free throw percentage (.896).
The Narberth, Pa. native, is seventh in program history with 1,810 points and is on pace to become the fifth member of Penn State's 2,000-point club. Lucas also ranks second in Penn State history and third in Big Ten history with 290 career three-pointers made. Her .886 career free throw percentage also tops the Lady Lion charts and her .436 shooting effort from long range ranks second in Penn State history.
The Wooden Award All American Team, consisting of the nation's top five players, will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The John R. Wooden Award Player of the Year will be announced at the 2013 Wooden Award Gala presented by Wendy's on April 12, 2013, at The Los Angeles Athletic Club. The Gala will honor the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, All Americans and the Legends of Coaching Award winner, Kansas Head Coach Bill Self.
Hundreds of members of the college basketball media will vote on the Wooden Award Player of the Year and All American team from 9:00 AM EST (6:00 AM PST), Monday, March 18, 2013, through 3:00 PM EST (Noon - PST), Wednesday, March 27, 2013, either online or through the mail.
Penn State won the Big Ten regular-season title with a 25-5 overall record and 14-2 mark in conference play. The Lady Lions are awaiting their NCAA Tournament fate until the bracket is announced on Selection Monday on March 18 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. The first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament will take place March 23-26 at predetermined sites.
The Lady Lions are on Twitter. Follow sports information contact Kris Petersen (@ladylionsid) and the Lady Lions and coaches (@pennstatewbb) to get the inside scoop. The Lady Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstateladylions.
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Candace Parker ('07 and '08), Kevin Durant ('09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut ('09 and `11).
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the All American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award's name. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club the weekend of the John R. Wooden Award Gala.
Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on to www.WoodenAward.com or going to the Wooden Award facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WoodenAward. For more information on the John R. Wooden Award, please contact the Wooden Award staff at 213-630-5206 or via email at woodenaward@laac.net.
2012-13 John R. Wooden Award Women's Ballot
Kelsey Bone, Texas A&M
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut
Chelsea Gray, Duke
Brittney Griner, Baylor
Tianna Hawkins, Maryland
Maggie Lucas, Penn State
A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Connecticut
Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford
Meighan Simmons, Tennessee
Odyssey Sims, Baylor
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland
Elizabeth Williams, Duke