Springfield, MA  – Junior guard Jasmine Nwajei (Rockaway Park, NY/Murry Bergtraum), the nation's leading scorer at 27.5 ppg. who on Saturday became the leading scorer in Wagner women's basketball history, was named as one of 10 candidates for the 2016 Nancy Lieberman Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday.

NCAA Statistical Leaders

Now in its 16th year, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball.
 
Candidates exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills of Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame became the host of the Nancy Lieberman Award two years ago after the Rotary Club of Detroit managed it for several years.
 
Nwajei scored all 23 of her points in the second half vs. Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday in becoming Wagner's all-time career scoring leader. The 5-8 guard entered the FDU game 20 points shy of passing Stephanie Samuels as Wagner's all-time leading scorer, a record that had stood for 30 years.
 
The 5-8 New York City guard, reached the milestone basket on a three-point jumper from left of the arc with 2:42 left to play, has now scored 1,839 career points, which surpasses Stephanie Samuels who amassed 1,835 points from 1982-1986. Averaging an astounding 33.5 ppg. in Northeast Conference (NEC) play this season, Nwajei is on pace the reach the 2,000-point career mark as a junior, and holds three of the scoring games in the nation this season.
 
Nwajei's Top Scoring Games
1.     Jasmine Nwajei – 53 – vs. Sacred Heart (1/24/16) (School and NEC All-Time Record)
2.     Jasmine Nwajei – 52 – at St. Francis Brooklyn (2/1/16)
3.     Jasmine Nwajei – 45 – vs. Stony Brook (12/18/15)
 
The women on this list exhibit many of the attributes that made Nancy Lieberman such an extraordinary player and team leader," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "With the annual Nancy Lieberman Award, the Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the phenomenal point guards who continue to advance women's college basketball and inspire the next generation of athletes."
 
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. The list will be narrowed down to five finalists in early March. The Lieberman Award winner will be announced during the WBCA Award Show in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Women's Final Four.
 
2016 Nancy Lieberman Award Finalists
Jasmine Nwajei, Wagner
Kelsey Minato, Army West Point
Niya Johnson, Baylor
Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
Jessica January, DePaul
April Robinson, Duquesne
Brene Moseley, Maryland
Lindsay Allen, Notre Dame
Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
Kelsey Plum, Washington


Follow Wagner Athletics on Facebook (facebook.com/WagnerAthletics), Twitter (@wagnerathletics), Instagram (@wagnerathletics) and YouTube (@WagnerSeahawks) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department. Follow the women's basketball team on Twitter @WagSwagg_WBB for news and updates on the women's basketball program and @CERMIGNANO for news on the fourth-year coach.