University Park, Pa. -- Kelly Mazzante (Montoursville, Pa.) has been named one of 20 finalists for the 2004 Naismith Player of the Year Award.
A two-time Kodak All-American, Mazzante has rewritten the record books this season. She recently took over as the all-time leading scorer in Big Ten Conference history Jan. 22 vs. No. 9/9 Minnesota, passing Calbert Cheaney's record of 2,613 points (132 games) in her 116th career game. Through Feb. 20, Mazzante has 2,744 career points, and is 116 points away from moving into the top 10 on the all-time NCAA women's basketball career scoring chart.
Mazzante is leading the Big Ten in scoring with 21.3 points per game. She also leads the conference in 3-point field goals made at 2.96 per game, and ranks fifth in free throw percentage at 83.3 percent. Mazzante has led the No. 7/7 Lady Lions (19-4, 11-1) to four wins over top-10 teams this year, and the Lady Lions have defeated more top-10 teams than any other squad in the country. Along the way she has netted 30 points four different times, has scored more than 20 points on 12 occasions and has been named Big Ten Player of the Week four times.
The reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, Mazzante has also been named a top WBCA Wade Trophy candidate along with being named to the midseason John R. Wooden All-America team.
The Naismith Awards program, now in its 36th year, honors outstanding college basketball players in the United States. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of excellence in basketball for student-athletes. Visit http://www.naismithawards.com for more information on the Naismith Awards and past winners.
The Lady Lions have one home game remaining: the regular season finale versus Big Ten co-leader Purdue at 1:30 p.m. ET, a game that will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The game is sold out.