JMU's Evans deserving of a Lieberman mention

I have nothing against Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley, Ohio State's Sam Prahalis, Iowa State's Alison Lacey, St. John's Nadirah McKenith, DePaul's Sam Quigley, Gonzaga's Courtney Vandersloot, Oklahoma's Danielle Robinson and Duke's Jasmine Thomas. Truth be told, I haven't seen everyone on this list play a whole lot (specifically McKenith and Quigley). I have no doubt they are fine point guards -- perhaps the best in the game.

On Wednesday all ballots for the Nancy Lieberman Award are due. The winner will be announced on April 10 at a ceremony in Detroit. The aforementioned are the names on the final ballot.

It bothers us that Dawn Evans is not on the list. In fact, she didn't even make the "buzz list," generated by sportswriters nationwide. She didn't even make the list?

The Lieberman Award, which has gone to Renee Mongomery, Kristi Toliver, Ivory Latta and Sue Bird, three times. The criterion for the award is the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills that personified Nancy Lieberman during her career.

The James Madison point guard embodies this award. Did you catch the play she made seconds AFTER the Dukes fell to Temple in the NCAA Tournament's first round at the Constant Center? Evans collected the JMU players for a passionate huddle reminding her teammates of all they had accomplished during a tumultuous season, that included battling her own kidney disorder.

Sounds an awful lot like a player Lieberman would admire.