Watson Named to Naismith Defensive Watch List

ATLANTA – Senior Blair Watson of the Maryland women's basketball team is one of 15 players in the country named to the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year midseason team Thursday.

Watson, a native of Nutley, N.J., leads the Terrapins with 53 steals this season, which is good for 3.1. She is second in the Big Ten and 15^th in the nation in takeaways.

Watson tied the 39-year old program record nine steals in a matchup at Iowa earlier this month. The last Terrapin to notch nine steals in a game was Debbie Lytle in 1982 and 1981.

As a team, the Terps are third in the country and lead the Big Ten in steals with 13.4 per game. Their turnover margin is +8.2, which is the best in the league and No. 7 in the NCAA.

Watson's numbers have increased across the board in her senior season, as she's averaging 9.6 points, 4.2 boards and shooting 38.5 percent from outside the arc. She's made 179 career three-pointers in 98 career games. Watson is No. 4 on Maryland's all-time three-pointers list.

For the full midseason list, click here.

No. 20/17 Maryland will play at Illinois Thursday night. The Terps and the Fighting Illini are set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET from State Farm Arena.

The Maryland-Illinois game will be streamed online through BTN Plus. Fans can watch with their BTN Plus subscriptions. Live stats will be available here.

-Terps-

Players Mentioned

Blair Watson

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