Monday, March 11th / KSU Communications
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – For the second time in her career, K-State center Ayoka Lee has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year in an announcement by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Lee, 2023-24 Second Team All-American by The Athletic, garners the honor for the second time, as she was a semifinalist for the 2021-22 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Award.
This season, Lee has led the Big 12’s top defense with 19 games of two or more blocked shots including a season-high seven at UCF on Jan. 6 and at Iowa State on Feb. 14. The 2024 Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection has also collected two or more steals in five games. This season is Lee’s third season with 60 or more blocks.
The product of Byron, Minnesota, has had a strong 2023-24 as she is averaging 19.9 points on a .621 field goal percentage, 8.4 rebounds and 2.83 blocked shots. She ranks eighth in the nation and leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage. Lee is second in the Big 12 in scoring average, second in the league and seventh in the nation for blocks per game and sixth in the Big 12 for rebounding average.
Lee has recorded 12 games this season with 20 or more points including her second career 20-20 double-double with 24 points, 21 rebounds and five blocked shots against Oral Roberts.
In her career, Lee ranks fourth in school history for points scored with 2,138, the K-State record holder for career rebounds with 1,088, the school record holder for career blocks with 303 and owns the school record for career double-doubles with 58. She is the first player in program history with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.She is the only active NCAA Division I women’s player with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.
Up next for K-State are the semifinals of the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship. The Wildcats will face Texas on Monday at 4 p.m., in Kansas City at T-Mobile Center.
Monday’s game can be seen on ESPN2 and can be heard on the K-State Sports Network including the flagship stations Sunny 102.5 FM and 1350 KMAN, online at kstatesports.com, or on the K-State Sports app.