Taja Cole, a redshirt-junior point guard on the Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team, has been named to the 2019 Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List, which recognizes the top-20 point guards in the nation.
 
 
The Richmond, Virginia native enters her second season in Athens after starting all 33 games last year. Cole finished in the top-10 of the SEC in both total assists (135) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) during the 2017-18 campaign. In addition to her assist numbers, she scored in double figures 12 times to help Georgia compile a 26-7 overall record on its way to an NCAA tournament berth.
 
 
Cole was a 2015 McDonald’s All-American, the Jordan Brand Classic MVP and a WBCA High School All-American before spending one season at Louisville.
 
 
“Taja has all the intangibles it takes to be a great point guard,” head coach Joni Taylor said. “Her energy on the court is contagious. I know she has been working extremely hard this summer to improve her game, and I am thrilled that she is being recognized among some of the best players not only in the SEC but also across the country.”
 
 
The selection committee for the Nancy Lieberman Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Lieberman Award will be narrowed to just 10.
 
 
In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Lieberman and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. The winner of the 2019 Lieberman Award will be announced in Tampa, Florida, in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four and WBCA Convention.