NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Basketball standouts Andrea Hoover of Dayton, Jonquel Jones of George Washington and Saint Joseph’s Natasha Cloud have been named to the Naismith Trophy Women's Basketball 50 Watch List, organization officials announced on Wednesday.
The Naismith Women’s Trophy, which is the most prestigious national award presented annually to the women’s college basketball player of the year, will announce its Midseason 30 on February 11 and narrow it to 10 semifinalists on March 5. The four finalists for this year's award will be selected prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament on March 20, with the winner announced at the Final Four on April 6.
The 2014 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Hoover currently leads the team and ranks second in the A-10 with 18.3 points per game and leads the league with 8.7 rebounds per game so far this season. She was also named to the 2014-15 A-10 Preseason All-Conference First Team. With 1,366 career points, Hoover ranks ninth on Dayton's all-time scoring list. This marks the second consecutive year Hoover has been named to the 50 Watch List.
An Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, Jones is averaging a double-double of 15.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game and shooting 54.8 percent from the field this season, pacing GW in all three categories. The native of Freeport, Bahamas, was tabbed Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on Dec. 1 following her MVP performance at the Junkanoo Jam in her hometown after leading GW (7-2) to the Freeport Division title with convincing victories over N.C. State and Purdue.
Proving to be one of the best point guards in the nation the past few seasons, Cloud has picked up where she left off a season ago, leading the Atlantic 10 in assists (52), while pacing the Hawks with a career-high 7.3 rebounds a game. Starting all nine games, the A-10 Preseason First Team and A-10 All-Defensive Team honoree is currently shooting a career-best 45 percent from the field (36-80) and ranks third on the team in scoring at 10.7 points per game.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, which have become the most prestigious national honors in all of college basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the Naismith Trophy recognizes the top Women’s College Basketball Players of the Year. Old Dominion’s Anne Donovan won the inaugural Women’s Naismith Trophy in 1983.