2 UConn Players Nominated for Naismith Award

STORRS, CT — Two University of Connecticut women's basketball players are up for a major national award.

Senior Gabby Williams and junior Katie Lou Samuelson were named two of 10 semifinalists for the Citizen Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club Monday and shared by UConn Athletics officials.

Williams and Samuelson have helped lead the top-ranked Huskies to a 28-0 record and the American Athletic Conference regular season title.

This season, Williams is averaging 10.4 points per game while leading the Huskies with 7.8 rebounds per game. She also has a team-high 143 assists and 72 steals.

Samuelson leads UConn with 18.5 points per game and currently leads the nation with a 49.3 three-point field goal percentage.

UConn is the only school with multiple semifinalists. The Huskies have had 10 Citizen Naismith Trophies in program history, the most of any program.

Four finalists for the Naismith award will be announced on March 16. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite player between March 19-30 with fan vote counting for 5 percent of the overall final vote. The winner of the Naismith will be announced on March 31.

The Huskies conclude the 2017-18 regular season against No. 18 USF on Monday night at 7 p.m.

Photo Credit: UConn