DePaul University Athletics
January Named to Lieberman Award Top 10
2/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Nancy Lieberman Award Website
CHICAGO - DePaul junior Jessica January is one of 10 players on the Lieberman Watch List that was released today by The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Now in its sixteenth year, the Lieberman Award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame became the host of the Nancy Lieberman Award two years ago after the Rotary Club of Detroit managed it for several years.
"The women on this list exhibit many of the attributes that made Nancy Lieberman such an extraordinary player and team leader," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "With the annual Nancy Lieberman Award, the Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the phenomenal point guards who continue to advance women's college basketball and inspire the next generation of athletes."
January, who is one of only 18 players in DI to record a triple-double this season, leads the BIG EAST Conference in assists with 6.1 per outing which also ranks 16th in DI. The junior has dished out 158 assists which ranks sixth while her 2.55 assist-to-turnover ratio is 15th.
January has eight or more assists in eight of No. 23/24 DePaul's 26 games. She recorded a career-high 13 dimes in the Blue Demons' 80-66 win at Texas A&M. The Richfield, Minn. native also dished out eight assists at Baylor and recorded five or more assists versus nationally ranked opponents -- Connecticut, Notre Dame, Northwestern and Seton Hall.
On the year, January is averaging 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals. She recorded 10-plus rebounds in three games with a career-high 11 against Georgetown.
January is the first DePaul player to be named a Lieberman Award finalist since Sam Quigley was in 2011.
The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. The list will be narrowed down to five finalists in early March. The Lieberman Award winner will be announced during the WBCA Award Show in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Women's Final Four.
"I am very honored to have my name associated with this award and the best point guards in college basketball," Lieberman said. "Over the years we have honored many deserving floor generals and I'm anxious to see who comes out on top this season!"
2016 Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List
Kelsey Minato, Army
Niya Johnson, Baylor
Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
Jessica January, DePaul
April Robinson, Duquesne
Brene Moseley, Maryland
Lindsay Allen, Notre Dame
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
Jasmine Nwajel, Wagner
Kelsey Plum, Washington
* Players can play their way onto and off of the Watch List and the Final 5*
