STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford sophomore Kiana Williams is one of five finalists for the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which recognizes the top shooting guard in women's college basketball.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 student-athletes in October, which was narrowed to 10 candidates in February down to five on Tuesday. This month, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Meyers Drysdale and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans are encouraged to visit www.HoophallAwards.com to cast their votes March 15-29.
Williams is joined on the list of finalists by four seniors in Katie Lou Samuelson (Connecticut), Maci Morris (Kentucky), Asia Durr (Louisville) and Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame). The winner of the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be revealed during the WBCA Coaches' All-America/Naismith Starting 5 Presentation on Thursday, April 4 at the Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
Second on the team in scoring (14.2) and first in assists (4.8), Williams has scored 20+ six times and is attempting to become the first Stanford player to average 4.5 assists in a seasons since Jeanette Pohlen in 2010-11.
Williams, whose 71 3-pointers last season where the second-most for a freshman in Stanford history, has made another 81 this year, which is tied for eighth in program history.
She was named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team as a freshman after averaging 17.7 points on 70.4 percent shooting (19-of-27), including 72.2 percent from deep (13-of-18) in Seattle and last weekend orchestrated the Cardinal's 13th conference tournament title with another virtuoso performance in Las Vegas.
Williams averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists in Stanford's three wins over Cal, Washington and No. 6 Oregon, including a 23-point, seven-rebound, six-assist performance in the quarterfinal victory over the Golden Bears. Eleven of her 15 made field goals in the tournament were from behind the arc and in six career Pac-12 Tournament games, the sophomore is averaging 16.8 points on 56.7 percent shooting, including a 58.5 percent clip from deep.
Williams scored seven of Stanford's final nine points in its 64-57 victory over Oregon in the championship on Sunday night, including a step-back 3-pointer with 86 seconds left that put the Cardinal up six.
She's made 152 3-pointers in her career, 10th among Power 5 conference players over the past two seasons.
Williams also averages 34.3 minutes per game, which would be the third most for a Stanford player in the last two decades. Milena Flores averaged 37.6 in 1999-00 and Chiney Ogwumike played 34.4 in 2012-13.