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Taylor Tabbed Semifinalist for Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year
2/27/2023 12:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM — Duke women's basketball senior Celeste Taylor was tabbed as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2023 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Monday afternoon.
In addition to Taylor, the list features Brea Beal (South Carolina), Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Brooke Flowers (St. Louis), Taiyanna Jackson (Kansas), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), Rayah Marshall (USC), Aneesah Morrow (DePaul) and Angel Reese (LSU). The four finalists will be announced on March 13, with the winner revealed on March 29 in Dallas during the Naismith Awards press conference.
One of the country's most elite defenders, Taylor has been instrumental in helping the Duke women's basketball team boast one of the nation's top defenses throughout the season. The Blue Devils are currently ranked third in the NCAA in scoring defense (50.9) and seventh in field goal percentage defense (34.8) and have held each of their opponents below its season scoring average, including 15 foes to 50 points or less.
Taylor has been disruptive on the defensive end as she leads the squad in total steals (58) and steals per game (2.0) – both marks that check in at fifth in the ACC. She has tallied two-plus steals in 16 games this season, including eight games with three or more thefts and three games with at least five takeaways.
The Valley Stream, N.Y., product is seventh nationally in defensive win shares with an average of 3.5 per 40 minutes while her player defensive rating is 73.0 is good for 32nd in the country out of 3,469 players.
Taylor has led the Blue Devils to a 24-5 overall record and a second-place finish in the ACC via a 14-4 mark. The 24 wins are a program-best dating back to the 2017-18 season while the 14 conference wins are the most since 2012-13.
Having earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament, Duke takes the court Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m., live on ACC Network, facing the winner of Thursday's second-round game between North Carolina and the winner between 10-seed Clemson and 15-seed Pitt.
To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."
#GoDuke
In addition to Taylor, the list features Brea Beal (South Carolina), Aliyah Boston (South Carolina), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Brooke Flowers (St. Louis), Taiyanna Jackson (Kansas), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), Rayah Marshall (USC), Aneesah Morrow (DePaul) and Angel Reese (LSU). The four finalists will be announced on March 13, with the winner revealed on March 29 in Dallas during the Naismith Awards press conference.
One of the country's most elite defenders, Taylor has been instrumental in helping the Duke women's basketball team boast one of the nation's top defenses throughout the season. The Blue Devils are currently ranked third in the NCAA in scoring defense (50.9) and seventh in field goal percentage defense (34.8) and have held each of their opponents below its season scoring average, including 15 foes to 50 points or less.
Taylor has been disruptive on the defensive end as she leads the squad in total steals (58) and steals per game (2.0) – both marks that check in at fifth in the ACC. She has tallied two-plus steals in 16 games this season, including eight games with three or more thefts and three games with at least five takeaways.
The Valley Stream, N.Y., product is seventh nationally in defensive win shares with an average of 3.5 per 40 minutes while her player defensive rating is 73.0 is good for 32nd in the country out of 3,469 players.
Taylor has led the Blue Devils to a 24-5 overall record and a second-place finish in the ACC via a 14-4 mark. The 24 wins are a program-best dating back to the 2017-18 season while the 14 conference wins are the most since 2012-13.
Having earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament, Duke takes the court Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m., live on ACC Network, facing the winner of Thursday's second-round game between North Carolina and the winner between 10-seed Clemson and 15-seed Pitt.
To stay up to date with Duke women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB."
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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