Feb. 7, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s basketball junior A’dia Mathies is one of eight student-athletes to be added to the 2011-12 State Farm Wade Watch list, as announced Tuesday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on behalf of the Wade Trophy Coalition.
Given to the nation’s most outstanding NCAA Division I women’s basketball player each year – both on and off the court – the Wade Watch recipient is selected on the basis of game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.
Mathies has been a star for the No. 7/7 UK Hoops team this season, leading Kentucky to arguably its best start in program history. The Louisville, Ky., native leads the Wildcats in scoring, steals, and 3-point field goal percentage, and is second on the team in rebounds, assists, 3-point field goals made and blocks.
Mathies’ 15.1 points per game and 14.7 points per game in conference action are each third best in the Southeastern Conference. The tenacious defender has recorded a steal in every game but one this season, and ranks third in the SEC in steals per game. Her nine takeaways against Nebraska Omaha early in the season tied the program record for the second most steals in a single game.
Despite her junior standing, Mathies finds her name on numerous top-10 lists in the UK career record book. Currently, Mathies is 15th on the all-time scoring list at Kentucky, eighth on the all-time steals list (third in steals per game), ninth in free throws made and sixth in free throws attempted.
Mathies had a career-night Jan. 12 vs. No. 6/7 Tennessee. Sparking the Wildcats on both ends of the floor, the 5-foot-9 guard scored a career-high 34 points on 11-20 shooting, while also grabbing nine rebounds, passing out two assists, blocking two shots and recording two steals. Mathies’ 34 points were the most points scored by a Kentucky player since 1987.
A three-time SEC Player of the Week and US Basketball Writers’ Association Women’s National Player of the Week recipient, Mathies is also on the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top-20 List and the Naismith Award Watch List.
Other SEC players on the list include LaSondra Barrett of LSU and Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen of Tennessee.
The State Farm Wade Watch list will be trimmed down from 33 candidates to a dozen finalists in mid-March. State Farm and the Wade Trophy Coalition will officially announce the State Farm Wade Trophy winner during the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Denver.
The Wildcats play again Monday at No. 11/11 Tennessee. The game will be televised by ESPN2 and be the first women’s collegiate basketball game in 3D as part of ESPN’s Big Monday Presented by Bud Light and Play 4Kay telecast.
