Northwest Notes Feb. 4, 2023
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 3 years, 7 months AGO
Murekatete named a Top-10 finalist for Lisa Leslie Award
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Washington State women's basketball player Bella Murekatete, from Genesis Prep Academy in Post Falls, has been named a midseason top-10 finalist for the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Friday.
It is the first time that Murekatete has been named a top-10 finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award, after earning a spot on the Leslie Award's Preseason Watchlist last season. The Butare Huye, Rwanda, native is having a career year for the Cougars, as Murekatete is averaging a career-best 13.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game heading into Friday's game. The 6-3 post player is fifth in the Pac-12 Conference with 29 total blocks.
The Lisa Leslie Award, in its sixth year, recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. Quay Miller (Colorado), Alexis Markowski (Nebraska), Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana), Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Monika Czinano (Iowa), Dorka Juhász (UConn), Taiyanna Jackson (Kansas), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), and Jessika Carter (Mississippi State) join Murekatete as this year's finalists.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, underway at hoophallawards.com.
Murekatete, a 6-3 post, ranks inside the top 10 in the Pac-12 in field goals made (2nd; 121), blocks (5th; 29), blocks per game (6th; 1.38), field goal percentage (7th; 47.1%), and rebounds per games (9th; 7.2). Murekatete's 13.8 points per game also rank 14th in the Pac-12.
Murekatete is the second Washington State women's basketball player to be named to a top-10 finalist for a National Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Starting Five honor, as junior Charlisse Leger-Walker was named a finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award earlier this week.
Coeur d'Alene High track parent meeting set for Tuesday
COEUR d'ALENE — A meeting for parents of prospective Coeur d'Alene High track and field team members is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Jordan Court team room at Coeur d'Alene High.
Information: Coach Shawn Amos, [email protected]