Turner

Turner on Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Midseason Watch List

ATLANTA –  The Atlanta Tipoff Club released the midseason list of players to watch for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award, presented by Bona, on Friday morning. The list had a little Irish flair with graduate student Brianna Turner among the 15 student-athletes named.
 
Turner, who is a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, continues to be that strong presence for the Irish down on the defensive end of the court. This season, Turner is averaging 2.4 blocks per game, which leads all players in the ACC and ranks 22nd in the nation.
 
Turner has logged six games with four or more blocks this season, including a season best of five at Virginia Tech on Jan. 16. That same game, Turner surpassed the 300 career block milestone. The Texas native is currently chasing Notre Dame great Ruth Riley for the all-time mark (370 career blocks), sitting with 310 blocks heading into Sunday’s matchup at North Carolina.
 
The following is the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Watch List presented by Bona:

Name Class Position School Conference
Kristine Anigwe Sr. C/F California Pac-12
Shakira Austin Fr. F Maryland Big Ten
Chastadie Barrs Sr. G Lamar Southland
Kenisha Bell Sr. G Minnesota Big Ten
Kalani Brown Sr. C Baylor Big 12
Lauren Cox Jr. F Baylor Big 12
Channon Fluker Sr. C CSUN Big West
Megan Gustafson Sr. F Iowa Big Ten
Ae’Rianna Harris Jr. F Purdue Big Ten
Anriel Howard Sr. F Miss St. SEC
Regan Magarity Sr. F Virginia Tech ACC
Teaira McCowan Sr. C Miss St. SEC
Taylor Murray Sr. G Kentucky SEC
Caliya Robinson Sr. F Georgia SEC
Brianna Turner Gs. F Notre Dame ACC

— ND —