Ionescu, Hebard Named to Naismith Starting Five
03/30/18 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon sophomores Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard have both been named to the Naismith Starting Five, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced on Friday prior to the Final Four.
Ionescu was selected as the winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award for the nation's top point guard while Hebard was given the Katrina McClain award for the nation's top power forward.
The Ducks are the only team in the NCAA to have two players on the Naismith Starting Five.
Ionescu is the first unanimous All-American in program history, earning first team All-America accolades from the Associated Press, the WBCA, the Wooden Award, the US Basketball Writers Association, USA Today and ESPN. She was also named the Pac-12 player of the year and the Pac-12 Tournament MVP. Ionescu is fourth in the NCAA, averaging 7.8 assists per game, while ranking 10th in the NCAA in three-point shooting at 43.8 percent. She led the Pac-12 in both scoring and assists this season. Ionescu set the NCAA's career triple-doubles record this year with her eighth and now has 10 triple-doubles through her sophomore season.
Hebard was named an honorable mention All-American by both the Associated Press and the WBCA in addition to being an all-Pac-12 selection. Hebard is second in the NCAA, shooting 66 percent from the field and her 14 double-doubles are fourth-most in the Pac-12. Hebard made 33 consecutive shots this season, stretching four games, which broke both the NCAA men's and women's consecutive made field goal records.
Ionescu and Hebard led the Ducks to both Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles this season in addition to the program's second straight Elite Eight appearance.
Naismith Starting Five
Nancy Lieberman point guard of the year - Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Ann Meyers Drysdale shooting guard of the year - Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Cheryl Miller small forward of the year - Gabby Williams, UConn
Katrina McClain power forward of the year - Ruthy Hebard, Oregon
Lisa Leslie center of the year - A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
Ionescu was selected as the winner of the Nancy Lieberman Award for the nation's top point guard while Hebard was given the Katrina McClain award for the nation's top power forward.
The Ducks are the only team in the NCAA to have two players on the Naismith Starting Five.
Ionescu is the first unanimous All-American in program history, earning first team All-America accolades from the Associated Press, the WBCA, the Wooden Award, the US Basketball Writers Association, USA Today and ESPN. She was also named the Pac-12 player of the year and the Pac-12 Tournament MVP. Ionescu is fourth in the NCAA, averaging 7.8 assists per game, while ranking 10th in the NCAA in three-point shooting at 43.8 percent. She led the Pac-12 in both scoring and assists this season. Ionescu set the NCAA's career triple-doubles record this year with her eighth and now has 10 triple-doubles through her sophomore season.
Hebard was named an honorable mention All-American by both the Associated Press and the WBCA in addition to being an all-Pac-12 selection. Hebard is second in the NCAA, shooting 66 percent from the field and her 14 double-doubles are fourth-most in the Pac-12. Hebard made 33 consecutive shots this season, stretching four games, which broke both the NCAA men's and women's consecutive made field goal records.
Ionescu and Hebard led the Ducks to both Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles this season in addition to the program's second straight Elite Eight appearance.
Naismith Starting Five
Nancy Lieberman point guard of the year - Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon
Ann Meyers Drysdale shooting guard of the year - Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
Cheryl Miller small forward of the year - Gabby Williams, UConn
Katrina McClain power forward of the year - Ruthy Hebard, Oregon
Lisa Leslie center of the year - A'ja Wilson, South Carolina
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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