March 14, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky’s Victoria Dunlap is one of 20 women’s basketball players named to the final ballot for the prestigious John R. Wooden Award which is given to the nation’s best women’s basketball player by The Los Angeles Athletic Club.
The Wooden Award Men’s and Women’s All American Teams, voted on by nearly 1,000 members of the media who cover college basketball, will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round during the NCAA Tournament, making it unique among college postseason awards.
Dunlap, the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-SEC selection, is considered one of the nation’s most versatile players. She is listed in the top half of eight SEC statistical categories, including leading the league in scoring (17.0), field-goal percentage (.463) and steals per game (3.2). She also ranks fourth in rebounding (8.8 rpg), tied for fifth in blocks (1.5 bpg) and sixth in free-throw shooting percentage (.706). She is the only player in the SEC to rank in the top four in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals.
Dunlap, a 6-foot-2 forward from Nashville, Tenn., has scored double figures in 29 of 31 games this season, including 20 consecutive. With eight double-doubles and 11 games with 20 or more points, she has helped lead the 17th-ranked Wildcats to their second straight 20-win season (24-8), including a school-record-tying 11 wins in SEC play. The Cats finished second in the SEC regular-season race behind No. 4 Tennessee and were runners-up in the SEC Tournament behind the Lady Vols.
At season’s end, Dunlap will undoubtedly be revered as one of the greatest players in UK Hoops history as she ranks in the top 10 of 14 career lists, including No. 2 all-time in scoring (1,810), rebounding (1,083), blocks (174), steals (304), free throws made (437), free throws attempted (702) and games played (131). She needs only five steals to tie UK’s career record of 309 set by Stacey Reed (1991-95). She is just the second player in school history with more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
Dunlap also is on the watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and the State Farm Wade Trophy.
She is one of two SEC players on the prestigious Wooden Award final ballot along with UT’s Shekinna Stricklen.
The 35th annual Wooden Award ceremony, which will include the announcement of the Men’s and Women’s Wooden Award winners, a special tribute to Coach Wooden and Wooden Award founder Duke Llewellyn, and the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, given to Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, will take place April 8, 2011 at The Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on to www.WoodenAward.com. For more information on the John R. Wooden Award, please contact the Wooden Award staff at 213-630-5206 or email at woodenaward@laac.net.
