MANHATTAN – For the second straight season, K-State forward Peyton Williams has been named as one of the 20 power forwards in the nation selected for the 2020 Katrina McClain Award watch list in an announcement from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its second year recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
The Selection Committee for the Katrina McClain Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. New to the award this season is Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Friday, October 25, at www.hoophallawards.com.
By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2020 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.
The winner of the 2020 Katrina McClain Power Forward Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 10, 2020, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.
Among the 20 players selected as watch list candidates, Williams is one of three players from the Big 12 Conference on the watch list: Lauren Cox of Baylor and Joyner Holmes of Texas.
Other candidates for the award are: Cate Reese of Arizona, Unique Thompson of Auburn, Summer Hemphill of Buffalo, Sara Rhine of Drake, Leonna Odom of Duke, Kiah Gilipsie of Florida State, Ayana Mitchell of LSU, Stephanie Jones of Maryland, Naz Hillmon of Michigan, Taiye Bello of Minnesota, Ruthy Hebard of Oregon, Brooklyn McDavid of Pacific, Eleah Parker of Penn, Bella Alarie of Princeton, Fran Belibi of Stanford, N’Dea Jones of Texas A&M and Hannah Crymble of Vermont.
Williams, a 2020 All-America candidate, will begin her senior season as the league’s fifth-highest returning scorer and the top returning rebounder from the 2018-19 season.
She enters her final season with the K-State women’s basketball program as the fourth player in program history with 1,000 or more career points, 600 or more career rebounds and 80 or more career blocks.
Williams completed her junior season in 2018-19 with a career-high 303 rebounds (9.5 rpg). Williams led all players in the Big 12 for rebound percentage at 26.6 percent and ranked second in rebound average for all games. Her rebounding total in the 2018-19 season ranked fourth in program history for a single season and were the most since Nicole Ohlde pulled in a junior season record 306 rebounds in the 2002-03 season.
Williams finished Big 12 play by averaging a double-double with 16.2 points and 10.0 rebounds. She is the first Wildcat to average a double-double in league play since Kendra Wecker in the 2004-05 season.
She carded a career-high and Big 12 best 14 double-doubles in the 2018-19 season. Her 14 double-doubles rank fourth in school history for double-doubles in a single season.
Williams, 2019 All-Big 12 First Team selection, increased her scoring average for the third straight season and led the Wildcats with 15.5 points per game (496 points) and free throw percentage (.833). She was the third player in program history to register 475 or more points and 300 or more rebounds in a single season.
Williams was the second player in program history to garner Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors, joining former teammate and three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection Breanna Lewis. Williams recorded 37 blocks and a career-high 62 steals in the 2018-19 season. She ranked among the top-15 in the Big 12 in steals per game (fourth; 1.9) and blocks per game (11th; 1.2).
Kansas State will begin its 2019-20 season with an exhibition game on Tuesday against Washburn at 6:30 p.m. The Wildcats will begin their non-conference regular-season schedule on Nov. 8 against Omaha at 6:30 p.m.
To become a 2019-20 K-State women’s basketball season ticket holder, fans can purchase a women’s basketball Powercat Pass for just $20 for football and men’s basketball season ticket holders, $50 for the public, $40 for K-State faculty and staff, military, seniors and youth, or just $120 for a 4-Pack.
A 4-Pack of Powercat Passes (68 total vouchers) is available for just $120 – a savings of up to $20 per pass. At only $30 per pass, and less than $1.76 per game, the 4-Pack Powercat Pass is your best value.
Additional season ticket options include Cat Cushion tickets at $99 per seat, as well as Chairback seats for $132 each (plus a $50 donation per season ticket account to the Ahearn Fund). K-State faculty and staff can purchase discounted season tickets in the Chairback sections at $110 each and Cat Cushion sections at $79 per ticket.
To purchase 2019-20 K-State women’s basketball season tickets, contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visit www.kstatesports.com/tickets.
– kstatesports.com –