Cal’s Boyd, Stanford’s Orrange named to Nancy Lieberman Award watch lists

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – CALIFORNIA's Brittany Boyd and STANFORD Amber Orrange have been named to the 29-player watch list for the 2014 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday. The award recognizes the most outstanding point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball based on the candidates’ exhibition of the floor leadership, play-making ability and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.

Boyd, a junior from Berkeley, Calif., leads the Conference in assists per game (5.53) and steals per game (3.47), and is also Cal’s second leading scorer averaging 13.1 points per game. The No. 19th-ranked Bears (12-3) are currently tied for first in the Pac-12 with a 4-0 Conference record.

Orrange, a junior and Houston, Texas native, is the Cardinal’s second-leading scorer (10.4 points per game) while leading the team in assists per game (4.6) and free-throw percentage (.818). Her 4.6 assists per game also ranks third in the Pac-12 and is first in three-point percentage (.447). Fourth-ranked Stanford (15-1) has won 14-straight games and is also tied for first in the Pac-12 with a 4-0 Conference mark.

The list will be narrowed down to 20 semifinalists in February and then to five finalists in March. The Lieberman award winner will be announced during Final Four weekend activities in April.

For full award watch list visit:  http://www.pointguard.org/watch_list.html