North Carolina State University Athletics
Rivers Highlighted on Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List
10/29/2024 11:27:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. – Saniya Rivers has been tabbed to the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Rivers is one of 20 on the list with the award given to the best shooting guard in the country.
Rivers was named to the ACC Preseason Team and was one of 50 on the Naismith Women's Player of the Year Watch List. She is coming off a 2023-24 season having averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.9 blocks in 35.2 minutes per game. She was an All-ACC first Team selection, ACC All-Defensive Team choice and AP All-America Honorable Mention honoree.
The guard was also on the Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award Watch List last season, in which she led the Pack in steals, defensive rebounds/game (5.5) and minutes/game. She finished her junior season with 23 double-digit scoring games, five 20+ point contests, one 30-piece, three double-doubles and 14 5+ assist games.
Last season, Rivers went off against No. 2/2 UConn with her first career double-double behind a career-high 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, being just one of 12 players across all NCAA Division I women's basketball to have a 30/10/5 game during the year. Rivers had back-to-back seven steal games against Duke and Clemson, becoming the fourth player in program history with multiple 7+ steal games in the same season. She also was key to the Pack's NCAA Final Four run, having averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during that five-game stretch.
Ann Meyers was the first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship to UCLA. She was the first player, male or female, named to the All-America Team for four straight seasons and played on the first women's Olympic team in 1976.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Friday, Nov. 1. The watch list will be narrowed down to 10 in late January and then down to five in late February. In March, the five finalists will be presented to the Drysdale and Hall of Fame's selection committees, where the winner will be chosen. The committee includes college basketball personnel, members of the media, head coaches, sport information directors and Hall of Famers. The winner of the 2025 Drysdale Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date along with the four other members of the Men's and Women's Starting Five.
Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watch List
Sarah Andrews - Baylor
Mara Braun - Minnesota
Sonia Citron - Notre Dame
Madison Conner - TCU
Jayda Curry - Louisville
Azzi Fudd - UConn
MiLaysia Fulwiley - South Carolina
Bree Hall - South Carolina
Lauren Jensen - Creighton
Flau'jae Johnson - LSU
Ta'Niya Latson - Florida State
Laila Phelia - Texas
JJ Quinerly - West Virginia
Saniya Rivers - NC State
Taliah Scott - Auburn
Shyanne Sellers - Maryland
Jewel Spear - Tennessee
Hailey Van Lith - TCU
JuJu Watkins - USC
Mikaylah Williams - LSU
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