Duke, UNC WBB players named to Wooden Award Midseason list

Cheryl Treworgy, TSN via PrettySporty.com

DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Los Angeles Athletic Club recently announced its John R. Wooden Award Women’s Midseason Top 20 list that includes the third-ranked Duke Blue Devils’ Chelsea Gray and Elizabeth Williams and the seventh-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels’ Diamond DeShields.

This year’s list actually contains 21 players, not the traditional 20, because Gray was voted to the list by the media based on her play so far this year, despite suffering a season-ending fractured kneecap against Boston College on Jan. 12.

Gray, a two-time All-America, was averaging 11 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals for Duke (18-1, 5-0) through the 17 games she played this season.

Williams is playing her best basketball of the season averaging 14 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals over the Blue Devils’ last seven games.

During that stretch, she has recorded double-doubles in three straight games.

Williams is shooting a career-best 56 percent from the field on the season and currently ranks 15th nationally with a three block per game average.

DeShields is the only freshman listed among the top players in the nation, and is averaging a team-leading 16 points per game while helping the Tar Heels (16-3, 4-1) earn their best national ranking in three seasons.

She has earned two ACC Rookie of the Week honors this season, and has elevated her game even more in ACC play, averaging 21 points and six rebounds currently.