SACRAMENTO -- Following a dominant 2021-22 campaign that saw her earn Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year and all-league second team honors, Sacramento State junior post Isnelle Natabou was named to the preseason watch list for the 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats on Wednesday.
Natabou — the first Big Sky Conference student-athlete ever to be named to the list — is joined by 24 of her peers on the initial watch list released on Oct. 19 and is only one of four from the West Coast named to the list along with Gonzaga's Brynna Maxwell, Portland's Alex Fowler, and San Francisco's Ioanna Kimili.
The native of the Czech Republic shined in her first Division I campaign for the Hornets, finishing among the top 25 in the NCAA in field goal percentages (.643), offensive rebounds (4.2 rpg), rebounds per game (10.9 rpg), and total rebounds (328), while standing No. 23 in the nation with 15 double-doubles — a total that included a run of 10 straight from Jan. 15 to Feb. 12.
She started all 30 games for Sacramento State, ranking seventh in the league in scoring at 14.7 ppg and leading the conference in rebounding, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds. Natabou finished in double figures in all but four games, which included seven 20-plus point performances and a season-high 31 points on 11-of-15 from the field against Southern Utah on Dec. 30.
Grabbing double-digit rebounds 15 times, Natabou collected a season-high 22 rebounds twice against Portland State (Jan. 15) and Idaho (Jan. 22) as part of her 10 consecutive double-doubles — including 10 offensive rebounds against the Vikings.
Natabou finished the year with 182 field goals made, which ranked 10th on the school's single-season list, while her .643 field goal percentage is second behind only Sue Digitale's .645 in 1976-77. Her 328 rebounds also rank fourth on the school's single-season chart, while her 10.9 rebounds per game are tied for seventh.
The award was first handed out in 2020 with South Dakota's Ciara Duffy taking home the honor, while Florida Gulf Coast's Kierstan Bell won back-to-back laurels in 2021 and 2022. This year's preseason watch list features student-athletes from 25 institutions and 13 conferences.
To be eligible for this award, players must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major." The following conferences are considered high-major for the purposes of this award, and thus ineligible: ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC. In January, 15 players will be named to the midseason watch list. The 10 semifinalists will be announced in February, with five finalists being announced in early March. The winner will be announced in late March. The list is fluid and players may play their way on or off the list over the course of the season.
Natabou and her Sacramento State teammates officially open the 2022-23 campaign at home on Nov. 12, welcoming UC Irvine to The Nest for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
2023 BECKY HAMMON MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST
(in alphabetical order)
Destinee Wells, Belmont, Jr., G
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Jr., G
McKenna Hofschild, Colorado State, Sr., G
Abbey Hsu, Columbia, Jr., G
Tishara Morehouse, FGCU, Gr., G
Brynna Maxwell, Gonzaga, Gr., G
Kayla Spruill, La Salle, Gr., G/F
Sam Breen, Massachusetts, Gr., F
Peyton Scott, Miami (OH), Sr., G
Megan Walstad, Milwaukee, R-Jr., F
Katelyn Young, Murray State, Jr., F
Shaiquel McGruder, New Mexico, Sr., F
Skyler Gill, North Alabama, So., G/F
A'Jah Davis, Northern Illinois, Sr., F
Kayla Padilla, Penn, Sr., G
Alex Fowler, Portland, Jr., F
Mackenzie DeWees, Quinnipiac, Gr., G
Addie Budnik, Richmond, Jr., F
Isnelle Natabou, Sacramento State, Jr., C
Brooke Flowers, Saint Louis, Sr., F/C
Ioanna Krimili, San Francisco, R-Jr., G
Myah Selland, South Dakota State, R-Sr., F
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo, Sr., G/F
Starr Jacobs, UT Arlington, R-Sr., F
Jordyn Jenkins, UTSA, Jr., F
