Dec. 20, 2008

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - Marquette senior guard Krystal Ellis has been added to 2008-09 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T early season watch list. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball's players of the year.

Ellis, a candidate for the Wade Trophy, Wooden Award and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, is one of 10 players on the list who represent the BIG EAST. The Racine, Wis., native currently leads the Golden Eagles with 15.6 points per game.

In February, the Naismith Trophy voting academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, will narrow its preseason list to the Top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2009 NCAA Women's Final Four in St. Louis, Mo.

The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2008-09 college basketball season. The watch list does not include incoming freshmen, although those student-athletes will be considered in the first vote in February, 2009.