LOS ANGELES — Seimone Augustus, a sophomore guard for the LSU Lady Tigers basketball team, was named one of 16 finalists for the inaugural John R. Wooden Women’s Award, it was announced by the award’s committee.
The 16 players named are on the official voting ballot for the 2004 Women’s Wooden Award, which goes to the most outstanding female collegiate basketball player in the United States, and the five-member All-American team.
The announcement of the team will come on March 31 and those five will be candidates for the award, which will be named on April 8 at the Los Angles Athletic Club on the “John R. Wooden Award Show Presented by Allstate” live on CBS at Noon CST.
Augustus, a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, leads the Lady Tigers (23-7) by averaging 18.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Her 51.6 field goal percentage in also among the team leaders, while her 91.0 free throw percentage is the best on the team. The Baton Rouge native has also scored in double figures in all but two of LSU’s 30 games this season, including 21 straight. She has scored at least 20 points in 13 games, including collecting a career-high 28 against Florida on January.
A panel of over 200 voters comprised of sports media members and women’s basketball experts from around the nation will vote for the All-American team and the Wooden Award.
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award, named after legendary coach, is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It has been given to the top men’s player on the nation and this is the first year the women will be honored.
Augustus is one of two sophomores among the list of finalists and joins Florida’s Vanessa Hayden as the only two from the Southeastern Conference.
Seimone Augustus 6’1″ So. G LSU
Alana Beard 5’11” Sr. G/F Duke
Tera Bjorklund 6’5″ Sr. C Colorado
Vanessa Hayden 6’4″ Sr. C Florida
Chandi Jones 5’10” Sr. F/G Houston
Kelly Mazzante 6’0″ Sr. G Penn State
Nicole Ohlde 6’5″ Sr. F/C Kansas State
Cappie Pondexter 5’9″ Jr. G Rutgers
Nicole Powell 6’2″ Sr. F Stanford
Heather Schreiber 6’2″ Jr. F Texas
Khara Smith 6’2″ So. F DePaul
Stacy Stephens 6’1″ Sr. F Texas
Diana Taurasi 6’0″ Sr. G Connecticut
Kendra Wecker 5’11” Jr. F Kansas State
Lindsay Whalen 5’9″ Sr. G Minnesota
Shereka Wright 5’10” Sr. F Purdue