University of North Carolina Athletics
Junior Janelle Bailey has been named one of 10 finalists for the Lisa Leslie Award.
Photo by: Dana Gentry
Bailey Named Top 10 Finalist For Lisa Leslie Award
February 14, 2020 | Women's Basketball
North Carolina's Janelle Bailey, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2020 Lisa Leslie Award, which recognizes the top center in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
It's the second year in a row that Bailey has been listed among the nation's top 10 centers.
Bailey leads the Tar Heels in scoring (15.1 points per game) and rebounding (9.8 per game). A preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection, she ranks third in the ACC in rebounding, fifth in free throw percentage (.802) and ninth in scoring.
The Carolina center has 11 double-doubles this season and has scored 20 or more points on seven occasions. She was named Co-ACC Player of the Week on Feb. 3 after averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds in UNC's wins over Virginia and Clemson.
Bailey and the Tar Heels (16-9, 7-7 ACC) are back in action Sunday for a noon game at Boston College.
The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. New to the award this season is Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live February 14 on hoophallawards.com.
Named after the three-time All-American, 1994 National Player of the Year and Class of 2015 Hall of Famer, the award is in its third year.
The winner of the 2020 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, CA on April 10, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
2020 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates*
| Queen Egbo | Baylor |
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa | Connecticut |
| Kristin Scott | Iowa State |
| Beatrice Mompremier | Miami |
| Elissa Cunane | NC State |
| Janelle Bailey | North Carolina |
| Ae'Rianna Harris | Purdue |
| Aliyah Boston | South Carolina |
| Charli Collier | Texas |
| Brittany Brewer | Texas Tech |
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2019-20 season
Players Mentioned
C
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