SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts  - Cal senior Kristine Anigwe has been named to the 20-player watch list for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Friday. Named after the three-time All-American and 1994 National Player of the Year, the Lisa Leslie Award is in its second year and recognizes the top centers in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. South Carolinas A'ja Wilson won the inaugural award in 2018 and the full list of candidates for the 2019 award can be found here.

Anigwe is only player Pac-12 named to the Leslie Award watch list, and has a chance to join the former USC standout and become just the 10^th player in Pac-12 women's basketball history to amass both 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. A three-time honorable mention All-American and the 2016 USBWA National Freshman of the Year, Anigwe enters her senior season with 1,849 career points and 871 career rebounds, both of which rank in the top-10 all-time in Cal women's basketball history.

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lisa Leslie Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Leslie and the Hall of Fame's selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com.The winner of the 2019 Lisa Leslie Center Award will be revealed on an ESPN platform during the 2019 Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida.

A three-time All-Pac-12 selection and the 2016 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Anigwe led the Bears in scoring last season for the third consecutive year. The 6'4" Anigwe was a late-season nominee for the 2018 Wade Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Player of the Year, and Katrina McClain Awards, while also leading the Golden Bears in rebounding, blocked shots, and field goal percentage, ranking third in the Pac-12 and 25^th nationally in shooting percentage for the 2017-18 season. Anigwe finished the season with 11 double-doubles, despite averaging only 29 minutes per game, and showed off an expanded skillset, posting career-bests in three-point percentage, assists per game, and assist to turnover ratio. On November 19, 2017, Anigwe became the only women's Division I basketball player in the last three seasons to have 25+ points and 25+ rebounds in the same game, posting 28 points and 25 rebounds in Cal's win at Brown.

Anigwe and the Golden Bears will host Westmont in a free exhibition game on Thursday (Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. PT) before tipping off the 2018-19 regular season at home on November 6 against Houston (7 p.m.). Picked fourth in the 2018-19 Pac-12 Coaches' Preseason Poll, the Bears will play a challenging non-conference schedule, highlighted by a Dec. 22 meeting against 11-time national champions UConn at Haas Pavilion (12 p.m. PT). The Golden Bears, now in their eighth season under head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, return three starters and 11 letterwinners from last season's team that reached the NCAA Tournament.
 
Season, group and single-game tickets for the 2018-19 women's basketball season are now on sale. Season tickets start as low as $40 ($2.67 per game, 15 home games) for youth and seniors and $80 ($5.33 per game, 15 home games) for adult general admission tickets. Single-game tickets are available starting at $4 for youth and seniors and $5 for adult, while group rates begin at $3 per seat for groups of 10 or more. Flex and partial plans are also available purchase. For more information, call the Gold Standard Sales and Service line at (800) GO BEARS (462-3277) or visit the CalBears.com ticket page.  

Keep up-to-date on the latest Cal women's basketball news by visiting the unique, multimedia site, ThisIsCalBasketball.com and by following the Bears on social media. View behind-the-scenes photos and videos and learn more about Cal and its student-athletes on Twitter (@CalWBball), Instagram (@CalWBball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWBball).

2019 Lisa Leslie Award Candidates

Kalani Brown	Baylor
Kristine Anigwe	California
Channon Fluker	Cal State Northridge
Daeja Smith	CSU-Fullerton
Jade Williams	Duke
Megan Gustafson	Iowa
Alex Wittinger	Illinois
Macee Williams	IUPUI
Sam Fuehring	Louisville
Hallie Thome	Michigan
Teaira McCowan	Mississippi St
Kate Cain	Nebraska
Jaisa Nunn	New Mexico
Janelle Bailey	North Carolina
Brianna Turner	Notre Dame
Ae'Rianna Harris	Purdue
Jordan Moore	TCU
Jatarie White	Texas
Katie Powell	UNLV
Mariella Fasoula	Vanderbilt

     *Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*