Lee Named Semifinalist for Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Award
Feb 28, 2022 | Women's Basketball
MANHATTAN, Kansas – K-State junior center Ayoka Lee continues to add to her trophy case, as she has been named a semifinalist for the 2022 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
Lee has been a defensive stalwart for the Wildcats this season, as she leads the Big 12 in blocked shots with a career-high a K-State record in a junior season 89 blocks. Lee is second on the team in steals with a career-high 36.
The product of Byron, Minnesota, is third in the nation for total blocked shots with 89 and is fourth in the nation and the league leader in blocks per game with 3.18. Lee's 89 blocks this season rank third in school history for blocks in a season.
Lee has nine games with four or more blocks this season, including a season-high of eight blocks against North Dakota State on Nov. 29.
Lee's career blocks total stands at 229, which ranks third in program history. Her career blocks per game of 2.79 is the highest in school history and ranks fifth in Big 12 history.
Lee is the only player in the nation with 625 or more points, 275 or more rebounds and 80 or more blocked shots.
K-State will wrap up its 2021-22 home schedule on Wednesday, March 2, as the Wildcats host West Virginia at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday's game is Senior Night, as K-State will honor its seniors – Cymone Goodrich, Laura Macke, Rachel Ranke and Savannah Simmons – in a postgame ceremony. Tickets for Wednesday's game can be purchased at kstatesports.com/tickets, calling (800) 221-CATS or in person at the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Wednesday's game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the K-State Sports Network, for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
2021-22 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Aneesah Morrow, DePaul
Angel Reese, Maryland
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Emily Engstler, Louisville
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Tamari Key, Tennessee
Veronica Burton, Northwestern
Lee has been a defensive stalwart for the Wildcats this season, as she leads the Big 12 in blocked shots with a career-high a K-State record in a junior season 89 blocks. Lee is second on the team in steals with a career-high 36.
The product of Byron, Minnesota, is third in the nation for total blocked shots with 89 and is fourth in the nation and the league leader in blocks per game with 3.18. Lee's 89 blocks this season rank third in school history for blocks in a season.
Lee has nine games with four or more blocks this season, including a season-high of eight blocks against North Dakota State on Nov. 29.
Lee's career blocks total stands at 229, which ranks third in program history. Her career blocks per game of 2.79 is the highest in school history and ranks fifth in Big 12 history.
Lee is the only player in the nation with 625 or more points, 275 or more rebounds and 80 or more blocked shots.
K-State will wrap up its 2021-22 home schedule on Wednesday, March 2, as the Wildcats host West Virginia at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday's game is Senior Night, as K-State will honor its seniors – Cymone Goodrich, Laura Macke, Rachel Ranke and Savannah Simmons – in a postgame ceremony. Tickets for Wednesday's game can be purchased at kstatesports.com/tickets, calling (800) 221-CATS or in person at the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
Wednesday's game will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on the K-State Sports Network, for free at kstatesports.com and on the K-State Sports app.
2021-22 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalists
Aliyah Boston, South Carolina
Aneesah Morrow, DePaul
Angel Reese, Maryland
Ayoka Lee, Kansas State
Cameron Brink, Stanford
Emily Engstler, Louisville
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech
NaLyssa Smith, Baylor
Tamari Key, Tennessee
Veronica Burton, Northwestern
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