SPRINGFIELD, MASS – Graduate transfer Jakia Brown-Turner of the 14^th-ranked Maryland women's basketball team was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List Wednesday. The Miller Award is given to the nation's top small forward in women's college basketball.
 
Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, the annual award, in its seventh year, recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
 
Brown-Turner, a 6-0 guard from Oxon Hill, Md., played four seasons at NC State, where she was a First Team All-ACC honoree and earned AP Honorable Mention honors in 2021. She averaged 10.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists as she started 123 of 124 career games for the Wolfpack. Brown-Turner helped NC State to three straight ACC titles (2020, 2021, 2022), an Elite Eight (2022) and a Sweet Sixteen (2021).
 
Brown-Turner, a Family Science major, scored 1,273 career points with 159 three-pointers made and 246 career assists. She scored in double figures in 16 games last year and in 67 career games. Brown-Turner scored 17 points to help the Wolfpack to a win at then-No. 10 Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge back in December. In the Wolfpack's Elite Eight run in 2022, Brown-Turner scored a season-high 20 points in the Elite Eight game vs. UConn, including a game-tying three to force overtime.
 
For more information on the 2024 Cheryl Miller Award and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall and #MillerAward on Twitter and Instagram. 
 
The Terrapins will play four of the other seven Elite Eight teams from the 2023 NCAA Tournament this season. The Terps will play non-conference matchups at No. 6 South Carolina (Nov. 12) and at No. 2 UConn (Nov. 16). They will host No. 3 Iowa on Saturday, Feb. 3 and No. 7 Ohio State on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at the XFINITY Center. Maryland will make a return trip to Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 25.

After being picked to finish fourth in the league last year, the Terrapins finished 28-7 overall and 15-3 in league to finish tied for second. Maryland advanced to the program's 15th Elite Eight and first since 2015. The Terrapins picked up nine wins over ranked teams, including five over top 10 opponents. 

Head coach Brenda Frese welcomes back Preseason All-Big Ten honoree Shyanne Sellers, key returners Faith Masonius, Lavender Briggs, Brinae Alexander and Bri McDaniel from last year's Elite Eight squad. Maryland also welcomes five newcomers in Brown-Turner and incoming freshmen Summer Bostock, Hawa Doumbouya, Emily Fisher and Riley Nelson. Emma Chardon and Allie Kubek will return from injuries.