College Notebook: Duke’s Williams a finalist for WBCA Defensive Player of the Year

Duke senior Elizabeth Williams one of the six finalists for the WBCA Division I Defensive Player of the Year award.

The other finalists are Syessence Davis (Rutgers), Jordan Jones (Texas A&M), Kendall Noble (Western Kentucky), Daisha Simmons (Seton Hall) and Kiah Stokes (UConn).

A native of Virginia Beach, Va., Williams earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight season after leading the league in blocks with a 3.0 per game average.

The 6-3 center also ranked tied for 12th nationally in blocks, while helping the Blue Devils be one of the top defensive teams in the nation.

Williams averaged 14.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest as the Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Spokane, Wash. She posted a career-best 10 double-doubles on the season and scored 20 or more points five times. Her 2.5 assists per game led all centers nationally.

Duke: Junior Celine Boutier will compete in the ANA Inspiration LPGA Tournament starting Thursday at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Boutier received one of five amateur sponsor invitations in 2015.

Boutier, a product of Montrouge, France, is the reigning National Player of the Year, after leading the Blue Devils to their sixth NCAA Championship last May. So far in 2014-15, Boutier has compiled a 72.38 stroke average with two top-five performances. She is currently listed as the No. 1 ranked amateur female golfer in the world amateur golf ranking system.

This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 8:19 PM with the headline "College Notebook: Duke’s Williams a finalist for WBCA Defensive Player of the Year."