Betts, Rice Named Wooden Award Midseason Top 25
January 10, 2024 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA sophomores Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice have been named to the John R. Wooden Award presented by Principal Midseason Top 25 Watch List, as announced by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on ESPN 2 Wednesday.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2023-24 season thus far, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor. UCLA is one of six schools in the NCAA with two or more players on the midseason list. The Pac-12 leads all conferences with six selections.
Betts ranks first in the conference, second in the nation in field goal percentage; the center is shooting a scorching .709 FG% from the field through 14 games with the Bruins. The sophomore also leads UCLA in points per game (16.0 PPG) and rebounds (9.0 RPG) in just 23.4 minutes per contest. The transfer has made an immediate impact in her first campaign with the Bruins, recording seven double-doubles in her 14 appearances.
Rice has come into her role as the floor general during her sophomore campaign; she has 87 assists on the year (6.2 APG – 3rd, Pac-12). The sophomore averages 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game; she claims a team-leading free throw percentage (.897 FT%) and steal total (31 STL). Rice has swiped the ball away in all but one game and recorded a career-high seven steals against CSUN in December. The point guard has recorded a triple-double (14 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST vs. CSUN – Dec. 7) and an 11-point, 10-assist double-double without a turnover (vs. Oregon – Jan. 5) this season.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Women's Player of the Year presented by Principal. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games.
The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the 2023-24 season thus far, the list comprises of 25 student-athletes who are front-runners for the sport's most prestigious honor. UCLA is one of six schools in the NCAA with two or more players on the midseason list. The Pac-12 leads all conferences with six selections.
Betts ranks first in the conference, second in the nation in field goal percentage; the center is shooting a scorching .709 FG% from the field through 14 games with the Bruins. The sophomore also leads UCLA in points per game (16.0 PPG) and rebounds (9.0 RPG) in just 23.4 minutes per contest. The transfer has made an immediate impact in her first campaign with the Bruins, recording seven double-doubles in her 14 appearances.
Rice has come into her role as the floor general during her sophomore campaign; she has 87 assists on the year (6.2 APG – 3rd, Pac-12). The sophomore averages 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game; she claims a team-leading free throw percentage (.897 FT%) and steal total (31 STL). Rice has swiped the ball away in all but one game and recorded a career-high seven steals against CSUN in December. The point guard has recorded a triple-double (14 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST vs. CSUN – Dec. 7) and an 11-point, 10-assist double-double without a turnover (vs. Oregon – Jan. 5) this season.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Women's Player of the Year presented by Principal. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award™ National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award. Voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during early round games.
The Wooden Award All American Team™ will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2024 John R. Wooden Award will be presented by Principal following the NCAA Tournament in April.
Players Mentioned
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