Syracuse point guard Tiana Mangakahia has been selected as a candidate for the 2021 Nancy Lieberman Award. The Nancy Lieberman Award honors the nation’s top point guard each year. This award is backed by The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the athletes are chosen by a national committee of top college personnel. Mangakahia is one of 20 athletes nominated for this award in NCAA Division I women’s basketball.
Mangakahia was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer before the start of the 2019-2020 season and therefore did not play any games. In her junior season, she was named Syracuse Female Athlete of the Year and became the all-time leader in career assists with 591. Mangakahia led the Orange in points (573), points per game (16.9), assists (287), assists per game (8.4), and free throw percentage (88.2%) as a junior.
Mangakahia was named a top-10 finalist of the Nancy Lieberman Award in 2017-18 and a top- 5 finalist in 2018-19.
Last month, the NCAA granted Mangakahia an Extension of Eligibility waiver and the Australia native will return to the court this season for her final year of eligibility.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].