Senior guard Kim Demmings has been named to the Naismith Trophy Women's 50 Watch List, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Thursday. The Naismith Trophy is presented each year to the nation's top player.
Demmings (Richmond, IN/Richmond), an All-American candidate, is currently second in Division I with 228 points this season and her 22.8 scoring average is 10th. Demmings leads the nation in field goal attempts (197) and also ranks third in field goals made (83), fifth in three-pointers attempted (79), 15th in three-pointers made (26), 29th in free throws attempted (51) and 43rd in free throws made (43).
Selected as the Horizon League Player of the Week on November 30, Demmings scored a season-high 32 points as the Raiders rallied for a 77-71 upset of #2/23 George Washington at the Lone Star Showcase on November 28 in Cedar Park, Texas. She scored 21 of those points in the second half, 14 in the fourth quarter, as the Raiders outscored the Colonials 29-16 in the final period.
The 32 points are the fifth-highest total ever for Demmings in a game and are the most since she scored 36 at Oakland on February 18, 2014.
In the opening game of the Lone Star Showcase against #25/21 Iowa on November 26, Demmings had 28 points with eight rebounds and then had 14 points the following day as the Raiders defeated Houston 75-61.
Demmings was also named as the Horizon League Player of the Week and High-Major Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on November 23 after averaging 25.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and four assists over three games.
In a 73-68 win at Kent State on November 17, Demmings posted a double-double as she scored 26 points and tied a career high with 14 rebounds. The Raiders rallied from a seven-point deficit by outscoring the Golden Flashes 16-4 over the final 3:28, with Demmings scoring 10 of those points. She also dished out six assists.
WSU then posted a 92-65 victory over Lipscomb in WSU's home opener on November 19, led by Demmings’ second straight double-double of 27 points and 10 rebounds. The 27 points against Lipscomb gave Demmings 2057 for her career, allowing her to pass Jodi Martin (2055 points from 1979-83) as Wright State’s all-time leading scorer.
In a 77-56 home win over Austin Peay on November 21, Demmings scored 24 points and had eight rebounds along with four assists and two steals.
For her career, Demmings has scored 2205 points, which is second among active Division I players behind Minnesota's Rachel Banham (2349). Her 796 field goals made are third on the active career list while her 2020 field goal attempts are first, her 20.2 scoring average is fourth and her 706 three-point attempts and 560 free throw attempts are both fifth.
The early season watch list will be reduced to the midseason 30 on February 11, with the 10 semifinalists named on March 2. The four finalists will then be announced on March 20 with the winner to be announced on April 3 during the Women's Final Four in Indianapolis.
Wright State (8-2), who is ranked #7 in Graham Hays' latest ESPN Mid-Major Poll and #12 in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Poll, visits Eastern Kentucky Sunday at 4:00. The Raiders then wrap up the nonleague portion of its schedule by hosting Mount St. Joseph on Tuesday, December 15, at 7:00 followed by Georgia on Sunday, December 20, at 2:00.
Complete Naismith Watch List Release.
**Release courtesy of Wright State Athletic Communications.
