COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Freshman forward Shakira Austin has been selected as one of 15 players on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, as announced on Friday. Austin is the only freshman to make the list for the national honor.
 
Austin has been a force on the defensive end for the Terps, already breaking Marissa Coleman's freshman blocks record, with 53 through 19 games this season, the second best mark in the Big Ten. The Freshman also ranks fourth in the conference, averaging 10.8 rebounds per game. Austin has seven double-doubles this season and has had 10+ rebounds in 13 of Maryland's 19 contests. 
 
Against Delaware on Dec. 20, Austin tied the Maryland single game block record with eight. Austin's had seven games with four-plus blocks. 

The Fredericksburg, Va. native has earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors five times this season and was named the USBWA National Freshman of the Week on January 15.

Austin and the Terps return to action Sunday when they travel to Bloomington to take on Indiana. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network at noon.