Vandersloot wins Naismith Award

Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga’s record-breaking senior point guard, was named the 2011 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner. The award, named after James Naismith’s daughter-in-law, is presented by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame through the voting of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to the nation’s top female player 5-foot-8 and under. There is also an award for men 6-foot and under. The award was first presented in 1984 to Kim Mulkey of Louisiana Tech, now the coach of third-ranked Baylor. Maria Stack of Gonzaga won in the second year. Criteria is leadership, character, loyalty, all-around basketball ability and excellence in the classroom. Vandersloot leads the nation in assists at 9.9 a game. Earlier this season she became just the fourth female to surpass 1,000 career assists. Last week she received her unprecedented third WCC Player of the Year Award. The award will be presented at a banquet during the Women’s Final Four in Indianapolis next month.