Indiana University guard Ali Patberg has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2020 Nancy Lieberman Award that was announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Monday. The award recognizes the top point guard in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.
Patberg, a redshirt junior from Columbus North, is the first finalist for the award in the IU program’s history.
Patberg also is one of 20 players in the country named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch list. It is chosen by a poll of national college basketball experts based on their performances during the first half of the season.
This past week on the court, Patberg finished with 10 points, three rebounds and four assists in a 57-53 win over Nebraska on Sunday. She also had 16 points five rebounds and 11 assists in a 79-69 loss to Maryland on Thursday.
The Hoosiers, ranked No. 20 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, are 19-6 overall and 9-4 in the Big Ten Conference.
Guy, Williams earn wins
Marian forward Imani Guy finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in an 83-51 win over Spring Arbor on Saturday. Forward Elle Williams added two points and four rebounds.
Guy, a junior from North, also had 14 points and seven rebounds in a 75-68 win over Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday.
The Knights are 23-3.
Ballard splits two games
Franklin College guard Britney Ballard recorded 18 points, three rebounds and three assists in a 70-64 loss to Hanover on Wednesday.
Ballard, a sophomore from Columbus East, added five points, one rebound, one assist and one steal in an 82-40 win over Manchester on Saturday.
The Grizzlies are 12-8.
Wilder, Tynan, Norman win
Hanover forward Callie Wilder, a freshman from Jennings County, finished with six points, three rebounds and two assists in a 70-52 win over Earlham on Saturday. Liz Tynan, a sophomore from North, added two points and three rebounds, and Kat Norman, a sophomore from North, grabbed four rebounds.
The Panthers are 14-6.
Weisner starts in loss
Earlham guard Amy Weisner finished with 11 points, one rebound and two assists in 70-52 loss to Hanover on Saturday.
Weisner, a senior from North, also notched four points, one assist, one steal and one block in a 75-42 loss to Transylvania on Wednesday.
The Quakers are 5-16.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Gross posts double-doubles
Olivet Nazarene center Alex Gross recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in an 89-83 win over St. Francis (Illinois) on Saturday.
Gross, a sophomore from Hauser, also had 25 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two assists in a 89-72 victory over Cardinal Stritch University on Wednesday.
The Tigers are 24-2.
King starts in loss
Army forward Alex King, a junior from North, finished with four points, three rebounds and one assist in an 80-66 loss to Boston University on Wednesday.
The Black Knights are 11-12.
Williams starts twice
Hanover forward Kevin Williams recorded 30 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in an 81-69 loss to Earlham on Saturday.
Williams, a senior from East, also had 19 points, five rebunds and two assists in a 74-53 victory over Franklin College on Wednesday.
The Panthers are 15-6.
Chitty contributes
Bellarmine guard Parker Chitty finished with two points, one assist and one steal in a 76-72 loss to Rockhurst on Saturday.
Chitty, a senior from East, also tallied three points and one rebound in a 70-69 loss to William Jewell on Thursday.
The Knights are 16-5.
Wilson earns wins
Illinois Valley Community College guard Connor Wilson recorded 13 points, three rebounds and five assists in a 75-73 win over Olive-Harvey College on Saturday.
Wilson, a junior from Hauser, also had 18 points that included four 3-pointers, along with one rebound, one assist and two steals in an 80-51 win over Kishwaukee College earlier in the week.
The Eagles are 10-16.
WRESTLING
Rooks tops ranked opponent
Indiana University’s Graham Rooks, a redshirt freshman from East, won a 3-2 decision over No. 14 Collin Purinton of Nebraska at 149 pounds in Sunday’s dual meet.
Rooks’ brother Cayden lost by a 4-2 decision against No. 13 Ridge Lovett of Nebraska at 133. The Hoosiers fell in the match 35-6.
SOFTBALL
Sims starts season right
Indiana State second baseman Leslie Sims went 1 for 4 in a 2-1 victory over No. 23 Wisconsin in the season opener on Friday in Boca Raton, Florida.
Sims, a senior from Hauser, went 1 for 4 in a 2-0 loss to Bethune-Cookman, then went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a stolen base in an 8-7 loss to Purdue on Saturday.
The Sycamores are 2-2.
Babb hits in wins
Butler catcher Elyse Babb went 1 for 3 with an RBI and scored a run in a 2-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday.
Babb, a redshirt junior from East, went 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs in an 8-0 victory over Western Illinois on Sunday.
The Bulldogs are 4-1.
WOMEN’s TENNIS
Smith starts spring season
Bellarmine’s Aubrey Smith picked up a come-from-behind win in her No. 4 singles match against Lincoln Memorial’s Claudia Rodriguez 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 to help the Knights secure a 4-3 team victory on Sunday. Smith also won her No. 2 doubles match with teammate Jennifer Skonieczny 6-4 over Lincoln Memorial’s Kiersten Waugh and Amanda Dahlstrom.
Smith, a junior from North, won her No. 3 singles match against Katie Swanson of Georgetown (Ky.) 6-4, 7-5 to help the Knights to a 5-2 team win on Saturday. Smith fell in her No. 2 doubles match with teammate Skonieczny 7-6 (6) to Maci Ferguson and Lauren Moore.
SWIMMING
Eicher finishes sixth
Indiana Wesleyan’s Whitley Eicher, a sophomore from East, finished sixth in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1 minute, 0.38 seconds during the Mid-South Conference Championships that ran Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
With spring sports beginning for the college season, if there is any athlete that you know of that has transferred to a different college than the one they originally played following high school, or is now playing in college that didn’t following high school, be sure to email me at jpence@therepublic.com. Please include the athlete’s name, class and the school they attend.
James Pence is a sports reporter for The Republic. He can be reached at jpence@therepublic or 812-379-5632.
