Purdue’s Harris Named Defensive POTY Semifinalist
The Boilermaker junior is 1-of-10 players in the nation still being considered for the award
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue women’s basketball junior Ae’Rianna Harris was named a semifinalist for the 2019 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award Presented by Bona on Tuesday, one-of-10 players in the nation being considered for the prestigious honor. Harris is one-of-two juniors remaining on the list and one-of-three players being considered from the Big Ten Conference.
Harris currently ranks second in the NCAA with 91 blocked shots and is third in the country with 3.25 rejections per game, both tops in the Big Ten. She’s also contributing 1.1 steals per game this season, in addition to a career-best 9.1 rebounds per game, including 6.25 per game on the defensive end.
Her 91 blocked shots are third-most in a season all-time for the Boilermakers, while her 271 career blocked shots are second-most at Purdue and tied for 10th in Big Ten Conference history with Illinois’ Karisma Penn. She remains 10 blocked shots away from the Boilermakers’ all-time record of 281, set by assistant coach Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton from 2005-to-2009.
Named the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Harris became only the third sophomore in conference history to earn top defensive honors and the third Boilermaker to ever bring home the award.
Harris and the Boilermakers return to action Thursday, heading to Penn State for a 7 p.m. ET tip at the Bryce Jordan Center.
2019 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award Presented by Bona Semifinalists
Kristine Anigwe, California
Chastadie Barrs, Lamar
Kenisha Bell, Minnesota
Kalani Brown, Baylor
Lauren Cox, Baylor
Megan Gustafson, Iowa
Ae’Rianna Harris, Purdue
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State
Taylor Murray, Kentucky
Brianna Turner, Notre Dame