SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Senior Mikayla Ferenz was named to the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale watch list as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Tuesday afternoon.

The honor is named after Ann Meyers, the first male or female to make the All-America team in four-straight seasons and recognizes the top shooting guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.

Ferenz, who was tabbed as this year's Big Sky Conference Preseason MVP, finished her junior season averaging 22.5 points per game, eighth in the NCAA. She holds the top spot of having the best scoring season in Idaho history, totaling 742 points a season ago. Fernez also sits at the number four spot in the NCAA in three-point field goals made (129), producing a .404 clip from behind the arc. In addition to her prolific shooting, Ferenz dished out 4.3 assist per game and grabbed an average of 6.4 rebounds a game, while averaging 36.8 minutes for the Vandals in 2017-2018.

The Walla Walla, Wash, native recorded Idaho's first triple- double in 34 years at North Dakota with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. She helped the Idaho women's basketball team to finish the 2017-2018 season 19-14 overall (13-5 in Big Sky Conference) with a trip to the Big Sky Conference Championship game and to the post season in the WNIT. Ferenz concluded the last year's campaign garnering first-team All-Big Sky honors and was named to the league's all-tournament team.

"What a fantastic honor to be chosen as one of the top 20 guards in the country going into this season. Mikayla has put in so many hours in the gym to get to where she is," said head coach Jon Newlee. "I couldn't be prouder of any player I have ever coached. It is an honor that is well deserved."

The winner of the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida.

The Selection Committee for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Drysdale and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.
 
Additional awards being presented and recognized at the WBCA Convention include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award, and the Lisa Leslie Center Award. Also being awarded is the Wade Trophy, the sport's oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award which is presented annually by the WBCA's community of coaches to the best player in college women's basketball.
 
About Ann Meyers Drysdale: Ann Meyers Drysdale's career escalated women's basketball to a new level. She was the first high school player to make the United States national team and the first woman to receive a full four-year athletic scholarship to UCLA. Her high-octane approach translated into wins and awards and she finished her impressive career at UCLA owning 12 of 13 school records including becoming the first player to record a quadruple double in UCLA history. A supremely talented all-around player with natural basketball ability and instincts, Meyers Drysdale was the first player, male or female, named to an All-America team in four straight seasons and was named Player of the Year during her senior year. While still at UCLA, she started on the first women's Olympic team in 1976. After an All-America career, she became the first player drafted into the Women's Basketball League and made history by becoming the first female player to tryout with an NBA team, the Indiana Pacers, with whom she signed a free agent contract. Meyers Drysdale pushed the envelope in women's basketball, bringing a feel and sense for the game that few players ever exhibited. In 2012, Meyers Drysdale became one of the first annual naming honorees on the women's side of the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) with the organization's National Women's Player of the Year. Since retiring from professional play, she has had a very successful career as an NBA and WNBA executive, as well as a color commentator for the NBA, WNBA and the Olympic Games in 1984, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.

For more information and the latest updates on the 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, visit www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MeyersAward on Twitter and Instagram.
 
2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Candidates

Chloe Jackson	Baylor
Darby Maggard	Belmont
Katie Lou Samuelson	Connecticut
Candice White	Fresno St.
Dionna White	Georgetown
Shakyla Hill	Grambling St.
Mikayla Ferenz	Idaho
Maci Morris	Kentucky
Asia Durr	Louisville
Allazia Blockton	Marquette
Destiny Pitts	Minnesota
Arike Ogunbowale	Notre Dame
Teniya Page	Penn St.
Jovana Nogic	Providence
Kitija Laksa	South Florida
Jessica Kovatch	St. Francis
Kiana Williams	Stanford
Kennedy Burke	UCLA
Aliyah Mazyck	USC
Amber Melgoza	Washington