The 5-foot-9 sophomore from Billings has been named one of 11 finalists for the eighth annual Nancy Lieberman Award. A national project of the Rotary Club of Detroit, it honors the top point guard in Division I women's basketball.
A national panel of sportswriters determined the finalists based on floor leadership, play-making ability and ball-handling skills - the qualities that helped put Lieberman, a former Old Dominion star and U.S. Olympian, in the basketball Hall of Fame.
“Mandy certainly fits the bill for the qualifications,” said UM coach Robin Selvig. “She's an outstanding player in all areas in terms of passing, scoring and leadership. We're flattered that Mandy is getting this kind of recognition. She's deserving of it because she's an outstanding point guard.”
Morales is one of three finalists from a mid-major school, joining junior Kimberly Beck of George Washington and senior Rudy Sims of Arkansas State. The other finalists are seniors Lindsey Harding of top-ranked Duke, Ivory Latta of North Carolina, Dee Davis of Vanderbilt, Cameo Hicks of Washington and Lyndsey Medders of Iowa State; sophomores Kristi Toliver of Maryland and Renee Montgomery of Connecticut, and freshman JJ Hones of Stanford.
Latta won the award last season, joining such former honorees as Temeka Johnson of Louisiana State, and Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird of UConn. The winner will be announced the weekend of the women's Final Four, April 1-3.
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