Feb. 24, 2014
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior point guard Samantha Logic has been named 1-of-22 watch list finalists for the 2014 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday. The award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
“What a great honor for Sam to be recognized as one of the top 22 point guards in the United States,” said UI head coach Lisa Bluder. “She has made an incredible impact on our team because she contributes in so many ways. Sam is a triple-double waiting to happen at any time. How many point guards around the country can say they lead their team in points, assists, rebounds and steals? She is very deserving of this honor.”
Logic (5-foot-9), the Big Ten leader in assists, is the only player in the conference to average 14 or more points (14.5), six or more rebounds (6.7), and six or more assists (7.5). She leads the Big Ten in league play in assists (8.1) and steals (2.9). Logic has been named Big Ten Player of the Week three times this season, while also being named to the Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll four other times.
Logic, who ranks third nationally in assists, has notched three triple-doubles this season, becoming the first Big Ten player to record three triple-doubles in a single season. Logic is second nationally in triple-doubles; Alyssa Thomas of Maryland has four this season. Entering the 2013-14 campaign, there had only been 11 seasons in NCAA history in which a player registered three or more triple-doubles. Logic has four career triple-doubles, the second most in Big Ten history, and the most while competing in the Big Ten (Suzie McConnell of Penn State registered seven from 1985-88).
Logic, 1-of-2 conference juniors named preseason All-Big Ten, is second in career assists (562) at Iowa. Cara Consuegra (1997-2001) is Iowa’s all-time assists leader (576). Logic is the 26th player in Big Ten history to notch 500 or more career assists. In addition, Logic’s 15 career games with double-digit assists are the most in program history. Cara Consuegra is second with nine games.
In Iowa’s 74-70 win at Michigan on Feb. 22, the Racine, Wis., native, notched a game-high 19 points, becoming the 31st 1,000-point scorer in program history (1,018).
She is 1-of-2 league players named a watch list finalist along with Northwestern’s Ashley Deary.
A premier selection committee made up of top college basketball personnel including Hall of Famers, media members, head coaches and sports information directors was appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the candidates. The list will be narrowed down to a final five by March and the winner will be announced during Final Four weekend activities.
“We are honored to be recognizing these 22 athletes for their strengths, skills and commitment to the game of basketball and are excited to move forward in the selection process,” Lieberman said. “All of these young women deserve to be on the list for this well-respected award and deserve recognition for their determination.”
Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include last year’s recipient Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Sue Bird (Connecticut), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut), Diana Taurasi (Connecticut), Lindsey Harding (Duke), Courtney Vandersloot (Gonzaga), Temeka Johnson (LSU), Kristi Toliver (Maryland), Ivory Latta (North Carolina) and Andrea Riley (Oklahoma State).
The Hawkeyes (21-7, 9-5) continue Big Ten action at home this week, hosting Ohio State on Thursday at 6 p.m. (CT) in their regular season home finale. Iowa will honor Theairra Taylor on Senior Night. The contest will be televised live by BTN.