Barnum Tabbed to Katrina McClain Award Watch List
Redshirt senior Erynn Barnum is one of 20 power forwards in the nation to be selected as a watch list member for the 2023 Katrina McClain Award, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). This marks the first time an Arkansas women’s basketball player has had a candidate for the Katrina McClain award, as well as the first watch list for a Razorback since prior to the 2020-21 season.
As one of the oldest and most experience players on the team, Barnum is destined for a big fourth year with the Razorbacks. The Little Rock, Arkansas native has played in 77 career games and has put up consistent numbers since she made her first collegiate appearance in 2019.
Barnum was playing the best basketball in her career early last season. She registered 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in the first nine games of the 2021-22 season, including a career-high 18 points with nine rebounds in Arkansas’ win over SMU. While Arkansas was fighting for an NCAA Tournament bid in the final week of the regular season, Barnum’s 10 points, eight coming in the fourth quarter, at Mississippi State were critical in the Razorbacks’ win. She finished last season averaging 7.6 points and was second on the team in rebounds with 4.8 per game.
Often being matched up against the best competition in the country, Barnum doesn’t back down, pacing the Hogs in blocks during her first two seasons on the Hill. She enters this season having logged 19 double-digit scoring games, three double-digit rebound contests and two double-doubles.
The award is named after two-time All-American and 1987 National Player of the Year Katrina McClain, which recognizes the top power forwards in women’s NCAA Division I basketball. A national committee consisting of top college basketball personnel choose the watch list of 20 candidates.
Fans are encouraged to take part in fan voting in one of the three rounds beginning on Friday, Oct. 21. The list of 20 players for this award will be narrowed down to 10 in late January and then five in late February. The five finalists will be presented to McClain and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee to determine a winner in March.
The winner of the 2023 Katrina McClain Award will be presented with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five on a later date. The other awards that will be presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (point guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (shooting guard), Cheryl Miller Award (small forward) and the Lisa Leslie Award (center).
Arkansas women’s basketball will play Arkansas – Fort Smith for an exhibition at Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. The Razorbacks will then open up the season at UAPB on Monday, Nov. 7.
2023 Katrina McClain Award Candidates*
Esmery Martinez – Arizona
Cate Reese – Arizona
Erynn Barnum – Arkansas
DreUna Edwards – Baylor
Lauren Gustin – BYU
Emma Ronsiek – Creighton
Aneesah Morrow – DePaul
Olivia Cochran – Louisville
Angel Reese – LSU
Maddy Westbeld – Notre Dame
Addie Budnik – Richmond
Sania Feagin – South Carolina
Victaria Saxton – South Carolina
Cameron Brink – Stanford
Jasmine Franklin – Tennessee
Aaliyah Moore – Texas
Aaliyah Edwards – Uconn
Alissa Pili – Utah
Maddy Siegrist – Villanova
Sam Brunelle – Virginia
*Players can play their way onto and off the list at any point throughout the 2022-23 season
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More Information
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