Mununga is one of just 20 players nationally to make the Watch List, and The American’s lone representative for the top power forward in the country.
TAMPA (November 12, 2020) – University of South Florida women’s basketball standout, Bethy Mununga is one of 20 players to be named to the Katrina McClain Watch List as the top power forward in America, as given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Mununga is the lone representative of the American Athletic Conference.
A six-foot senior forward from Zellik, Belgium, Mununga proved to be one of the top post players in The American, during her first season with the Bulls, after transferring from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. She was third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.2 points per game, and tops in rebounding, grabbing 10.1 boards per contest. Mununga’s rebounds per game average was second in The American, along with her total rebounds (292), in addition to being ranked 32nd and 36th in the nation, respectively. She averaged 3.8 offensive rebounds per game, good enough for second in The American and 26th in the nation.
One of the most consistent offensive threats in the conference, Mununga shot 50.0 percent (109-for-218) from the field on the year and 71.0 percent (49-for-69) from the free-throw line. She hit 50.0 percent-or-better from the field 18 times and 60.0 percent plus in 10 outings. Mununga scored in double-figure points in 15 games and hauled down double-digit rebounds 17 times. She had a tremendous start to her USF career, recording five double-doubles in her first seven games played, and finished the season with nine. Mununga scored a career-high 16 points three times, with her first big performance coming at No. 3 Baylor where she poured in 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds and three steals.
Named after the two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year, the annual award in its fourth year recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
College basketball fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. In early February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2021 Katrina McClain Award will be narrowed to just 10. In early March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. McClain-Pittman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee.
The winner of the McClain Award will be presented on Friday, April 9, 2021, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.
2021 Katrina McClain Award Candidates
Jasmine Walker – Alabama
Cate Reese – Arizona
Unique Thompson – Auburn
NaLyssa Smith – Baylor
Maddi Utti – Fresno State
Natalie Kucowski – Lafayette
Naz Hillmon – Michigan
Jessika Carter – Mississippi State
Sam Brunelle – Notre Dame
Natasha Mack – Oklahoma State
Taylor Jones – Oregon State
Brooklyn McDavid – Pacific
Bethy Mununga – USF
Cameron Brink – Stanford
Francesca Belibi – Stanford
N’dea Jones – Texas A&M
Alissa Pili – USC
Chelsey Perry – UT Martin
Maddy Siegrist – Villanova
Raneem Elgedawy – Western Kentucky
For more information on the 2021 Katrina McClain Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #McClainAward on Twitter and Instagram. Starting Five Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies will go live on Friday, November 13.
About USF Women’s Basketball
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USF notched its ninth consecutive 19-win season and was poised for its ninth straight postseason appearance in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the end of the college basketball season. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Elena Tsineke and Elisa Pinzan. Tsineke was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, in addition to The American All-Freshman Team and Third Team All-Conference; while Pinzan was named a Third Team All-Conference selection.
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 20 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 350 games.
– #GoBulls –
