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krikya18.com | February 19, 2019

Naismith Trophy announces 10 women's basketball defensive player of the year nominees

Andy Katz calls for a Notre Dame repeat as national champs in women's hoops

The Naismith Trophy announced its 10-player watch list for the women's Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday.

The full list includes eight seniors and two juniors. The Big Ten's three nominees leads all conferences, with the SEC right behind with two.

RANKINGS: Oregon up to program-best No. 2 in latest AP Top 25 poll; Baylor still No. 1

Mississippi State's Teaira McCowan, one of those eight seniors, is looking to repeat. She won the inaugural Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2018. No. 1 Baylor is the only school with two players on the list, with Kalani Brown and Lauren Cox.

Womenā€™s Defensive Player of the Year 10 semifinalists:

PLAYER school class position
Kristine Anigwe California Senior Center/Forward
Chastadie Barrs Lamar Senior Guard
Kenisha Bell Minnesota Senior Guard
Kalani Brown Baylor Senior Center
Lauren Cox Baylor Junior Forward
Megan Gustafson Iowa Senior Forward
Ae'Rianna Harris Purdue Junior Forward
Teaira McCowan Mississippi State Senior Center
Taylor Murray Kentucky Senior Guard
Brianna Turner Notre Dame Senior Forward

AWARD WATCH: Here are the 30 players nominated to the Naismith Trophy midseason watch list

The winner will be announced on April 6, the same day that the Naismith women's coach of the year and women's player of the year awards are revealed.

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