Ames, Iowa – Iowa State sophomore center Audi Crooks has been named a Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award Top 5 Finalist as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Crooks is the first Cyclone to be named one of the five finalists for the award.
The Lisa Leslie Award, now in its eighth year, recognizes the top centers in Division I women’s college basketball. It is named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year, and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer.
Crooks leads the Big 12 in scoring this season, averaging 22.9 points per game while pulling down 7.7 rebounds per game. She set the Iowa State single-season record for made field goals with 290 entering tonight’s Big 12 Championship Quarterfinal against Baylor. Crooks also appeared on Naismith Trophy Midseason Team last month and was a unanimous First-Team All-Big 12 selection. The Algona native has scored in double figures in 64-straight games, every game except her first as a Cyclone. It ties the program’s longest streak set by Angie Welle (2000-02).
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting starting today, March 7, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.
Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees. The Selection Committees for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards are composed of top men’s and women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
