Mulkey Named to Naismith Defensive Player of Year Watch List
1/26/2021 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
One of 15 players recognized across NCAA
ATLANTA – Rice senior center Nancy Mulkey is among 15 players recognized across the NCAA for the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Tuesday.
Mulkey, the two-time defending Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, currently ranks ninth in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (3.09) this season and is 11th in total blocked shots (34).
The Cypress, Texas native anchors a Rice defense that is surrendering a league-low 56.7 points per contest and is holding opponents to 33 percent shooting (11th in NCAA).
Mulkey's 267 career blocks rank third among all active Division I players while she also ranks fourth in career blocked shot average (2.90). Mulkey has blocked at least one shot in every game this season and has six games with three or more rejections. In addition, Mulkey is averaging a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game.
2020-21 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
Aliyah Boston South Carolina
Veronica Burton Northwestern
Kate Cain Nebraska
Charli Collier Texas
Elissa Cunane NC State
Arella Guirantes Rutgers
Sara Hamson BYU
N'dea Jones Texas A&M
Natasha Mack Oklahoma State
Aari McDonald Arizona
Nancy Mulkey Rice
Olivia Nelson-Ododa UConn
Chasity Patterson Kentucky
DiDi Richards Baylor
Sage Stobbart UC Davis
Mulkey, the two-time defending Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, currently ranks ninth in the NCAA in blocked shots per game (3.09) this season and is 11th in total blocked shots (34).
The Cypress, Texas native anchors a Rice defense that is surrendering a league-low 56.7 points per contest and is holding opponents to 33 percent shooting (11th in NCAA).
Mulkey's 267 career blocks rank third among all active Division I players while she also ranks fourth in career blocked shot average (2.90). Mulkey has blocked at least one shot in every game this season and has six games with three or more rejections. In addition, Mulkey is averaging a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game.
2020-21 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
Aliyah Boston South Carolina
Veronica Burton Northwestern
Kate Cain Nebraska
Charli Collier Texas
Elissa Cunane NC State
Arella Guirantes Rutgers
Sara Hamson BYU
N'dea Jones Texas A&M
Natasha Mack Oklahoma State
Aari McDonald Arizona
Nancy Mulkey Rice
Olivia Nelson-Ododa UConn
Chasity Patterson Kentucky
DiDi Richards Baylor
Sage Stobbart UC Davis
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
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