Northwestern University Athletics
Jaeschke Earns Spot On Final Wooden Award Ballot
3/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 14, 2011
Amy Jaeschke Website
LOS ANGELES, Calif.-- Senior center Amy Jaeschke is a finalist for the 2011 Wooden Award, it was announced today by the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Jaeschke was one of only three student-athletes who was not on the Midseason list but made the final ballot, which consists of the nation's top 20 women's basketball players. She is the first Wildcat to earn a spot on the prestigious ballot.
"It's a great honor for Amy to be a finalist for the Wooden Award," head coach Joe McKeown said. "Amy exemplifies the spirit and character that Coach Wooden stood for. I think she is one of the top student-athletes in the country and has had an incredible impact on Northwestern."
The honor acknowledges an outstanding season in which Jaeschke is averaging 21.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 3.2 bpg. Currently, she is seventh in the country in swats and 12th in scoring. Two weeks ago, Jaeschke was tabbed a first-team All-Big Ten selection and named a member of the Big Ten All-Defensive team.
Jaeschke has enjoyed an exceptional career in Evanston, where she cemented herself as one of NU's all-time greats. The Wilmette, Ill., native is second in both scoring and rebounding in Northwestern history and tops NU's career blocks chart. She also is 21st all-time in NCAA Div. I history with 352 rejections. She has garnered national attention all season, being named to the State Farm Wade Trophy Watch List, Naismith Trophy Preseason List, Lowe's Senior Class Award Candidate roster and now the Wooden Award.
The Wooden Award national ballots for both the men and women were sent out today (March 14) by the Los Angeles Athletic Club to nearly 1,000 members of the media who cover college basketball. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, each ballot is made up of 20 student-athletes who, based on their performances throughout the season, are the candidates for college basketball's most prestigious honors.
All 40 players have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and are maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award Men's and Women's All American Teams will be announced the week of the "Elite Eight" round during the NCAA Tournament, making it unique among college postseason awards.
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird ('79), Michael Jordan ('84), Tim Duncan ('97), Blake Griffin ('09) and Maya Moore of Connecticut ('09). Ohio State's Evan Turner and Connecticut's Tina Charles won the Award in 2010.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed close to a million dollars to universities' general scholarship fund in the names of the All American recipients. The Award has also sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps in the Award's name. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The tournament, which brings together Special Olympic athletes and the All Americans, takes place at The Los Angeles Athletic Club the morning after the John R. Wooden Award Ceremony.
Follow the candidates and get the latest news throughout the season by logging on to Woodenaward.com.
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