The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Basketball's Sutton named Nancy Lieberman Award semifinalist
02.11.2019 | Women's Basketball
Sutton is the only point guard in the Big 12 Conference to make the list.
Junior Texas point guard Sug Sutton is one of 10 semifinalists for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award, it was announced Monday. Sutton is the only point guard in the Big 12 Conference to make the list.
Now in its 20th year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered to this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
A national committee comprising top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. The winner of the 2019 Lieberman Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa.
Sutton, in her first season as the Longhorns' starting point guard, has established herself as one of the best floor leaders in the nation. Sutton ranks 11th nationally in total assists [135] and 20th in the nation in assists per game [5.6].
But it isn't just assists for Sutton who consistently fills up the stat sheet for Texas. She is her team's leading scorer at 12.8 points per game, leads her squad in steals at 1.5 takeaways per game, and is second on the team in both field-goal percentage [.488] and rebounds per game [5.3].
Sutton has scored in double figures on 18 occasions in 2018-19. This season, she has set career highs in points [24], assists [10] and rebounds [10]. She has reached the 20-point plateau twice this season and, in her last nine games, is averaging 15.4 points per game. Sutton has played 30 or more minutes on 17 occasions this year and she is averaging 31.9 minutes per game.
In league games only, Sutton is averaging a team-best 14.9 points per game, a field-goal percentage of 52.3, 5.3 rebounds per game and 5.3 assists per game. She is the Big 12's only player to rank in the league's top-10 in points, assists and field-goal percentage.
Past Longhorns to have been named top-10 candidates for the Nancy Lieberman Award include Brooke McCarty and Jamie Carey.
Sutton and the Longhorns return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Stillwater, Okla., to take on Oklahoma State. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by Fox Sports Southwest Plus.
2019 NANCY LIEBERMAN POINT GUARD OF THE YEAR AWARD CANDIDATES
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan
Crystal Dangerfield, UConn
Kelly Campbell, DePaul
Natisha Hiedeman, Marquette
Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Destiny Slocum, Oregon State
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse
Sug Sutton, Texas
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
