University of Utah women's basketball player Morgan Warburton was named as one of 30 mid-season candidates for the 2009 Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday. The Naismith Trophy is given annually to the women's college player of the year.
Warburton currently leads the Mountain West Conference and is 21st in the country in scoring (18.9 points per game). She is also ranked fourth in the country in free-throw percentage (90.3, 121-of-134). Warburton has scored at least 20 points in 10 games this season with a career-high 28 against Wyoming on Feb. 8. She set a new school record with 16 free throws (16-of-16) against Southern California on Dec. 30.
A 2008 honorable mention All-American and the MWC Preseason Player of the Year, Warburton leads all current MWC players in scoring with 1,720 points, which ranks sixth all-time at Utah. She was a candidate for the Lowe's Senior Class Award and has been named the MWC Player of the Week four times this season.
"This is a great honor for Morgan," Utah head coach Elaine Elliott said. "She is finishing a great career with a great senior year and this is well deserved for her."
The top 30 women's list was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season. The winner will be announced at the 2009 NCAA Women's Final Four in St. Louis.