Sept. 18, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s basketball senior guard A’dia Mathies has been named to the preseason “Wade Watch” list for The State Farm Wade Trophy, as announced by The State Farm Wade Trophy Committee, along with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. The award is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding NCAA Division I women’s basketball player.
Mathies, who was named one of 12 finalists for the Wade trophy last March, led UK in scoring (15 ppg), assists (2.7 apg), steals (2.6 spg) and 3-point field goal percentage (.378) last season. The 2012 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year ranked second on the team in rebounds (5.1 rpg), 3-point field goals made (51) and was third in blocks (21). The Louisville, Ky., native has climbed to No. 12 on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,435 and is sixth on the career steals list with 251.
Mathies’ best game last year came against Tennessee, as she poured in a career-high 34 points and hit the game-winning basket with less than five seconds left to snap Tennessee’s 36-game SEC winning streak. Mathies’ 34 points were the most points scored by a Wildcat since 1987.
In addition to being named the SEC Player of the Year by the coaches and The Associated Press, Mathies’ additional 2012 accolades include being named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and AP All-America Teams, the All-SEC first team (coaches and AP), the All-SEC Defensive Team and the SEC All-Tournament team.
Now in its 36th year, the State Farm Wade Trophy is named in honor of the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University coach, Lily Margaret Wade. Regarded as “The Heisman of Women’s Basketball,” the award is presented annually to the NCAA® Division I Player of the Year by the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) and the WBCA.
The preseason list is composed of top NCAA Division I women’s basketball players who best embody Wade’s spirit from 18 institutions and eight conferences. A committee of coaches, administrators and media from across the United States compiled the list using the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.
Baylor’s Brittney Griner was named the 2012 State Farm® Wade Trophy winner.
Kentucky, the 2012 SEC regular season champions, returns four starters from last season’s Elite Eight squad, including Mathies, SEC Freshman of the Year Bria Goss (Indianapolis) and NCAA Tournament Kingston All-Region team member Samarie Walker (West Carrollton, Ohio). UK will also welcome back Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.), who sat out the 2011-12 season due to injury, and DeNesha Stallworth (Richmond, Calif.), an All-Pac-10 selection, will see her first action after sitting out last season due to transfer regulations. New faces to the roster next season are sophomore junior college transfer Jelleah Sidney (Queens Village, N.Y.) and freshman McDonald’s All-American Janee Thompson (Chicago, Ill.).
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