Story Courtesy of Buffalo Sports Information
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo women's basketball sophomore guard Dyaisha Fair has been added to the "Wade Watch" list of candidates for the 2021 Wade Trophy, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced on Wednesday.
Fair has played and started in all 15 games this season, leading the way in scoring with 24.4 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per contest and a +1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. She is one of three players in the country who are averaging at least 20 points and five assists per game. Fair is currently ranked seventh in the nation in scoring (24.4 ppg) and also ranks in the top 25 in free throws made (86) and attempted (109), three point field goals made (44) and final points (366). She has scored in double figures 14 times this season, 13 times with 20 or more points, three times with 30+ points and is one of 11 players in all of Division I to have a recorded a triple-double.
The Rochester, NY native was also named a top 10 finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award, is one of 10 semifinalists for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award and was named to the late season watch list for the Dawn Staley Award.
Joining the preseason list of 33 Wade Trophy hopefuls are Kierstan Bell of Florida Gulf Coast, Grace Berger of Indiana, Anastasia Hayes of Middle Tennessee, Haley Jones of Stanford, and Natasha Mack of Oklahoma State.
Now in its 44th year, the Wade Trophy is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.
The WBCA will announce the four finalists for the honor in mid-March. The winner of the 2021 Wade Trophy will be announced in April.
For the complete 39-member "Wade Watch" list click here.
