title image via Coppin State Athletics
Coppin State forward Laila Lawrence was named to the Becky Hammin Award Midseason Watch List earlier this week.
The senior out of Lewisville, TX is averaging 16.8 points, which is second in the MEAC, as well as a conference-best 9.3 rebounds, while also adding 2.8 assists, and 2.7 steals in 20 games this season. Lawrence’s steals and blocks are good for second in the conference, while she also ranks sixth in assists. Lawrence has shown she can step up when the caliber of competition does, scoring 20 points against defending national champion South Carolina, as well as against Virginia Tech, Arizona State, and Virginia.
She is the lone Division-1 player to average 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and blocks.
The Hammon Award has been given out since 2020. To be eligible for the honor a player must compete in the 26 conferences that have been declared a “mid-major” and do not include players from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, or the Big East. The watchlist will be pared down to 10 semifinalists, which will be announced in February. From those semifinalists, 5 finalists will be announced in early March and the winner of the award will be revealed close to the time of the Final Four.
Lawrence, the MEAC’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year is one of two HBCU players, along with Norfolk State forward Diamond Johnson, to be named to the list.
Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Midseason Watch List
- Ally Becki, Ball St., Sr., G
- Emma Ronsiek, Colorado St., Gr., F
- Laila Lawrence, Coppin St., Sr., F
- Katie Dinnebier, Drake, Sr., G
- Megan McConnell, Duquesne, Sr., G
- Mia Jacobs, Fresno St., Jr., F
- Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga, 5th, F
- Harmoni Turner, Harvard, Sr., G
- Diamond Johnson, Norfolk St., Gr., G
- Laura Ziegler, Saint Joseph’s, Jr., F
- Grace Larkins, South Dakota, Sr., G
- Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota St., Jr., F
- Kayla Cooper, UAlbany, Gr., F
- Maya McDermott, UNI, Sr., G
- Jordyn Jenkins, UTSA, R-Sr., F
