Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA - The State Farm Wade Trophy Committee elected to add five additional student-athletes to the 2008-2009 State Farm Wade Watch List. Rachel Allison (Baylor), Kristi Cirone (Illinois State), Shalee Lehning (Kansas State), Deirdre Naughton (DePaul) and Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (Purdue) become part of the 30-player pool, which includes 25 selected during the preseason.

The committee chose to add the five players to the Wade Watch after extensively reviewing each student-athlete's contributions to their team and to the integrity of the game.

Allison is currently second on the Baylor squad in scoring (13.0 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and minutes played (29.3). She became the 26th Lady Bear to earn 1,000 career points during the Texas State game and now has 1,032.  A Preseason All-Big 12 selection, she has registered 10 double-figure scoring games in 14 appearances this season, while grabbing six or more rebounds 12 times. She currently ranks among Baylor's all-time leaders in 3-point percentage (No. 7, 37.1 percent), free throws made (No. 9, 280), rebounds (No. 10, 742) and points (No. 24, 1,032).

Cirone has achieved double-figures in scoring in 15 games this season and 20 points or more in six consecutive games - an effort that has her tied for the longest streak at Illinois State. The WBCA December Player of the Month honorable mention leads the Redbirds in scoring, 3-pointers, free throw percentage, assists and steals. The two-time MVC Player of the Week and three-time Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week scored a career-high 35 points against Robert Morris. This season Cirone moved into second-place at Illinois State on the career scoring, three-point field goals and assists record books.

Lehning comes to the list as the only player in Big 12 history with over 1,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists. The senior guard is the first player in Big 12 history to record two triple-doubles in the same season. Lehning, who is probably best known for her ability to distribute the ball, is ranked fifth in the Big 12 and first at Kansas State in assists, averaging 8.8 a game this season. Lehning is also contributing 11.7 points and 7.5 rebounds this season and is tied for second for the second-longest current starting streak in the nation.

Adding to the depth of the group is Naughton.  This junior guard is currently averaging 17.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists a game and already has over 1,000 career points.  Naughton has registered double figures in 68 career games and has led DePaul in scoring eight times this season. She currently has the most assists by a BIG EAST player to date with 33. Naughton is a two-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team and has been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this season.

Rounding out the list is Wisdom-Hylton. Despite tearing her ACL last season and having to sit out, Wisdom-Hylton was a Preseason first team All-Big Ten selection by coaches and media and has been awarded Big Ten Player of the Week honors twice this season. She leads Purdue in scoring (13.1 ppg), rebounding (9.4 rpg) and steals (50) and is second in assists (51) and blocks (32). Wisdom-Hylton ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding and steals and is in the top 10 in four other categories. She currently sits 13th on Purdue's career scoring list with 1,381 points, the most career points by any active player in the Big Ten, and leads the Boilermarkers with 259 all-time blocked shots.

The renowned “Wade Watch” list for The State Farm Wade Trophy is comprised of student-athletes who are members of an NCAA Division I institution and are selected based on the following criteria: game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team and overall playing ability.

The Wade Trophy Coalition was established in June of 2000 when the WBCA partnered with The National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS). For the past nine years the two have worked together to present The State Farm Wade Trophy Player of the Year Award. A committee comprised of coaches, administration and media from across the United States selects the winner.

About State Farm
State Farm® insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve more than 78 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.

About NAGWS
The National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) was established to develop and deliver equitable and quality sport opportunities for ALL girls and women through relevant research, advocacy, leadership development, educational strategies, and programming in a manner that promotes social justice and change.

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For additional information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.