Baylor standout NaLyssaSmith was named the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. This was determined by unanimous votes of the league’s coaches. It was announced Monday.
Fourth-ranked Baylor is scoring 22.3 points per game and grabbing 11.7 rebounds per game. This team won the 12th consecutive Big 12 regular-season title. Smith is the league’s leading rebounder and second most prolific scorer.
After Kansas won its first 20 games since 2013, Brandon Schneider was named the coach of the Year. Instead of finishing last in the preseason poll, the Jayhawks finished fifth and received their highest seed to the conference tournament since 2000.
Lexi Donarski, a transfer from Alabama, was named the league’s best defensive player. Baylor’s Jordan Lewis (a transfer from Alabama) was selected as the league’s top newcomer.
Smith was able to score a career-high 35 point and 12 rebounds when Baylor won the Big 12 title. After grabbing a record-breaking 20 rebounds in her previous game, Smith was able to achieve this milestone. She has 21 double-doubles in this season’s games, six of which have been the last seven.
Brittney Griner was the last Big 12 player of year with three consecutive seasons.