Louisville Women’s Basketball has had a tremendous season in the first season AD; AD stands for After Durr, by the way. Some expected the Cards to take a step back after losing such a big time player in Asia Durr. Two players really emerged and helped the Cards maintain their winning ways this season in the persons of Dana Evans and Kylee Shook.
Dana Evans is the 𝘼𝘾𝘾 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧!
— ACC Women's Basketball (@accwbb) March 3, 2020
This season, she increased her scoring average to 17.9 ppg and is shooting 42.2 percent from beyond the arc 🔥
🎥↓ pic.twitter.com/W52LzkCOb1
Evans, a junior G from Gary, IN, has become one of the best PGs in women’s college basketball. And today, she was not only recognized as the best best PG in the ACC, but the best overall player in the ACC. She was named ACC Player of the Year today.
The first thing that came to mind when Dana Evans was named ACC Player of the Year:
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 3, 2020
“I have to call my dad.” ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TRwW2Xfv1K
Evans is averaging 18.1 points per game on 42% from the field and 41.9% from the three-point line. Along with her improved scoring, Evans is averaging 2.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Her scoring has really helped fill the gap left by the loss of Asia Durr to graduation. She was able to increase it while maintaining her playmaking ability. Her numbers are very deserving of this honor.
Kylee Shook is our Defensive Player of the Year!
— ACC Women's Basketball (@accwbb) March 3, 2020
She's the @UofLWBB all-time leading shot blocker with 220 career blocks, and her 83 blocks this year is a single-season record. 👏🚫
🎥↓ pic.twitter.com/y1aSq9Xm5O
Shook has become a force in the middle on the defensive end for the Cards this season. Her rebounding has improved immensely and her length has made her a prolific shot blocker. As a defender, she has become an eraser and rim protector at the defensive end. Her improvement on the defensive end has led her to be named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. This season, the senior F from Colorado Springs is averaging 9.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. She has had a whopping 80 blocks in 28 games and increased her rebounds by 2 per game.
Congrats to these two Cards for being recognized for their excellent seasons. These awards were well earned. I think all Card fans are ready to see these two lead us on a run in the postseason.
To read more about both players and their awards, check out the UofL press release below.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
Evans Named ACC Player of the Year, Shook Named Defensive Player of the Year
It marks the third straight season that a Louisville player has been named ACC Player of the Year.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2020
On the Web: https://uofl.me/2VE0ct8
Contact: Nick Evans, NickE@GoCards.com, (502) 852-3085
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville women’s basketball junior guard Dana Evans has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, while senior forward Kylee Shook has been named Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced today.
Evans, selected as player of the year by the league’s Blue Ribbon Panel and the ACC’s 15 head coaches, is the first player in league history to go from winning ACC Sixth Player of the Year to winning ACC Player of the Year the following season.
It marks the third straight season and the fourth time in five seasons that a UofL player has been named ACC Player of the Year as Asia Durr was named ACC Player of the Year the last two seasons and Myisha Hines-Allen earned the honor following the 2015-16 campaign.
A Wooden Award, Citizen Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy, Meyers Drysdale Award and Dawn Staley Award finalist, Evans is averaging 17.9 points per game for the Cardinals (27-3, 16-2), which ranks fourth in ACC, while shooting a league-best 42.2 percent from deep. She has made 81 3-pointers, which ranks second in the league and 16th in the country.
She became Louisville’s 31st 1,000-point scorer with 18 points against Florida State and her 81 made 3-pointers this season is tied for ninth all-time in single season history at UofL.
Shook, a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, is the first Louisville player to win conference defensive player of the year since Angel McCoughtry won Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-09.
Earlier this season, Shook overtook McCoughtry as Louisville’s all-time leading shot blocker and her 83 blocks this year is a single-season program record. Her 2.8 blocks per game lead the ACC and rank 11th in the country.
After claiming its third straight ACC regular season title, No. 4 Louisville (27-3, 16-2) will be the 1-seed in the 2020 ACC Tournament in Greensboro, NC. The Cardinals open play on Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m. against either 8-seed Syracuse or 9-seed Virginia.
For the latest on Louisville women’s basketball, visit GoCards.com, follow the team’s Twitter account at @UofLWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UofLWBB.
