Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Van Lith Named WBCA Region Finalist
March 22, 2023 | Women's Basketball
This is the second-straight season she has been named a Region Finalist
ATLANTA — The Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today that University of Louisville junior guard Hailey Van Lith has been named region finalists for 2023 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America. This is the second-straight season Van Lith has been named a region finalist for the All-America team.
The selection committee will choose the 10-member Coaches' All-America team from the 52 finalists. The 2023 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America team will be announced later this month.
Van Lith leads the team with 19.5 points per game, is second with 3.2 assists per game and third with 4.6 rebounds per game. She is one of two Power-Five players (Caitlin Clark) who has averaged at least 19 points, four rebounds and three assists per game this season. Recently she was named first team All-ACC for the second-straight season, ACC first team All-Tournament, Drysdale Award Finalist for best shooting guard in the country and selected to the Wooden Award National Ballot.
Nationally, Van Lith ranks 12th in total points scored (681), 20th in free throw percentage (88.0), 14th in field goals made (241), 24th in minutes per game (36.68) and 26th in points per game (19.2). Her 681 points this season currently ranks seventh all-time for most in a single season and the 19.5 points per game average is eighth all-time. She has scored in double figures in 33 of her 35 games this season and scored 20 or more in 18 games this year. Against ACC opponents, she has scored 15 points or more in 17 games and 20 points or more in 10 games.
She has been a catalyst for the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament this season. She scored 26 points in the first round win over No. 12 seed Drake. The 26 points were a postseason career best for Van Lith and it was tied for seventh in program history for the most in an NCAA Tournament game. In the second round against No. 4 seed Texas, Van Lith scored a team-high 21 points as the Cardinals advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth-straight season.
One of her best games of the regular season came on the road against Florida State back in January. She tallied 20 points with eight rebounds, eight assists and tied a career high with five steals. She hit a jumper as the shot clock was expiring in the final minute to clinch the win for the Cardinals and they were the only team this season to beat Florida State in Tallahassee. Van Lith is the only Power-Five player in the country with at least 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals in a single game this season.
Van Lith and the Cardinals will be back in action this weekend for the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals are off to Seattle for the Regional and are matched up with No. 8 seed Ole Miss in the Sweet 16. The Cardinals and Rebels are set to face off on Friday, March 24 at Climate Pledge Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
The selection committee will choose the 10-member Coaches' All-America team from the 52 finalists. The 2023 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America team will be announced later this month.
Van Lith leads the team with 19.5 points per game, is second with 3.2 assists per game and third with 4.6 rebounds per game. She is one of two Power-Five players (Caitlin Clark) who has averaged at least 19 points, four rebounds and three assists per game this season. Recently she was named first team All-ACC for the second-straight season, ACC first team All-Tournament, Drysdale Award Finalist for best shooting guard in the country and selected to the Wooden Award National Ballot.
Nationally, Van Lith ranks 12th in total points scored (681), 20th in free throw percentage (88.0), 14th in field goals made (241), 24th in minutes per game (36.68) and 26th in points per game (19.2). Her 681 points this season currently ranks seventh all-time for most in a single season and the 19.5 points per game average is eighth all-time. She has scored in double figures in 33 of her 35 games this season and scored 20 or more in 18 games this year. Against ACC opponents, she has scored 15 points or more in 17 games and 20 points or more in 10 games.
She has been a catalyst for the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament this season. She scored 26 points in the first round win over No. 12 seed Drake. The 26 points were a postseason career best for Van Lith and it was tied for seventh in program history for the most in an NCAA Tournament game. In the second round against No. 4 seed Texas, Van Lith scored a team-high 21 points as the Cardinals advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth-straight season.
One of her best games of the regular season came on the road against Florida State back in January. She tallied 20 points with eight rebounds, eight assists and tied a career high with five steals. She hit a jumper as the shot clock was expiring in the final minute to clinch the win for the Cardinals and they were the only team this season to beat Florida State in Tallahassee. Van Lith is the only Power-Five player in the country with at least 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals in a single game this season.
Van Lith and the Cardinals will be back in action this weekend for the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals are off to Seattle for the Regional and are matched up with No. 8 seed Ole Miss in the Sweet 16. The Cardinals and Rebels are set to face off on Friday, March 24 at Climate Pledge Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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