Press 2009

For Immediate Release

MONTGOMERY NAMED THE 2009 NANCY LIEBERMAN AWARD
TOP POINT GUARD

DETROIT, MI, April 3, 2009 -- The Rotary Club of Detroit announced today that Connecticut senior Renee Montgomery has been selected as the 2009 Nancy Lieberman Award winner. The award recognizes the nation’s top collegiate point guard in women’s Division I basketball. The criteria for the award are the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills that personified Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman during her career. Sportswriters from across the country determined the award winner and finalists.

The three finalists (in alphabetical order) are: Kristi Cirone (Illinois St.), Danielle Robinson (Oklahoma), and Kristi Toliver (Maryland).

Montgomery, the 5-7 point guard, has helped guide Connecticut (37-0) to the NCAA Women’s Final Four tournament for their second consecutive season and 10th time in the program’s history. She has been named to the Associated Press All-American First Team and is the recipient of the 2009 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award and BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award. She is one of only three players in Connecticut history to tally 1,500 points and 500 assists in a career and is the only player in program history to rank in the top-10 in points (1,946), assists (622), steals (260) and three-pointers (249).

During her storied career at Connecticut, Montgomery has been integral in leading the team to a 137-11 record that includes two trips to the NCAA Women’s Final Four, four NCAA Regionals, four BIG EAST regular season titles and three BIG EAST Tournament crowns. She has also registered 146 career starts, 138 of which have been consecutive – the most by any player in UConn program history and the most nationally.

"Renee Montgomery is one of the best, hardest working, and smartest leaders that I have seen in the game. It is an absolute pleasure for me to add her to the list of great UConn point guards who have won the award. She is on to something very special this year with Connecticut being undefeated. The award couldn't go to a finer player," said Nancy Lieberman.

For further information visit the official Nancy Lieberman Award website, www.pointguard.org or contact Chris Flynn (Award Co-Chair) at 313-824-4264 or via e-mail at contact@pointguard.org.

(February 23, 2009)

The Nancy Lieberman Award committee announces the final nominees for the 10th Annual Nancy Lieberman Award.  The award is a national project of the Rotary Club of Detroit honoring the nation’s top collegiate point guard in women’s Division I basketball.  The criteria for the award are the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills that personified Hall of Famer, Nancy Lieberman during her career.  Sportswriters from across the country have determined this final nominee list.  They will select three finalists from this list and one winner at the beginning of April 2009.  The announcement of the three finalists and one winner will be made during the Final Four Weekend (April 5-7, 2009). We will invite the winner to attend the award luncheon in Detroit, Michigan.

Here is the final nominee list (in alphabetical order):