Story Courtesy Of Buffalo Sports Information
Springfield, Mass. – University at Buffalo women's basketball sophomore guard Dyaisha Fair has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2021 Nancy Lieberman Award, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on Monday. She is the first finalist for the award in UB women's basketball history.
On Saturday, the Rochester, NY native became the fastest in program history and 14th fastest in Division I women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, doing so in just 44 games. Fair has played and started in all 14 games this season, leading the way in scoring with 24.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, 5.3 assists per contest and a +1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. She is currently ranked eighth in the nation in scoring (24.4 ppg) and also ranks in the top 25 in free throws made (86) and attempted (109), assists (74), steals (38) and final points (342). She has scored in double figures 13 times this season, 12 times with 20 or more points, three times with 30+ points and is one of 10 players in all of Division I to have a recorded a triple-double. Fair was also named to the midseason watch list for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award.
Now in its 22nd year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. To be considered for this prestigious award, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, playmaking and ball-handling skills of Class of 1996 Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
The Selection Committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Friday, February 5 at 1 p.m. EST on HoophallAwards.com.
In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. The winner of the 2021 Lieberman Award will be presented April 9, 2021, along with the four other members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
Previous winners of the Nancy Lieberman Award include Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2018-20), Kelsey Plum, Washington (2017), Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut (2015-16), Odyssey Sims, Baylor (2014), Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame (2012-13), Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga (2011), Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State (2010), Renee Montgomery, Connecticut (2009), Kristi Toliver, Maryland (2008), Lindsey Harding, Duke (2007), Ivory Latta, North Carolina (2006), Temeka Johnson, LSU (2005), Diana Taurasi, Connecticut (2003-04), and Sue Bird, Connecticut (2000-02).
