University of North Carolina Athletics
Breland Named To Midseason Naismith List
February 25, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2009
ATLANTA --- North Carolina junior forward Jessica Breland is one of 30 midseason candidates for the 2009 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. Connecticut senior Renee Montgomery, junior Tina Charles and sophomore Maya Moore were named to the list and pace the Big East conference, which leads the way with seven finalists. The ACC and Big 12 each placed six candidates, including Breland, Chante Black (Duke), Courtney Paris (Oklahoma), Andrea Riley (Oklahoma State) and Kristi Toliver (Maryland).
Breland is an extremely versatile post player who has become one of the nation's top all-around players as a junior. Currently averaging 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in all games and just shy of a double-double (13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds) per game in conference play, the Kelford, N.C., native ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in five statistical categories.
She leads the league and is sixth in the nation in blocked shots with 3.1 per contest and has a league-leading 11 double-doubles this season, including seven in ACC play. Earlier in the season, Breland became the 12th ACC player to record 200 career blocked shots and currently ranks in the top 10 in league history.
Again this year AT&T will give fans an unprecedented voice in selecting the winner. Fan voting, through the power and ease of text messaging, will account for 25 percent of the selection process. This program sets the standard in college athletics for integrating fans into the voting process and providing them with more input than with any other major collegiate sports award.
Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until April 4. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. The Women's Naismith Trophy winner will be announced at the 2009 NCAA Final Four in St. Louis.
