Dontavia Waggoner Earns National Recognition for Defense
January 24, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Junior Guard Leads ACC in Steals
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.  - Junior Boston College guard Dontavia Waggoner was added to the 2023 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year Watch List on Tuesday.Â
Waggoner is one of three players in the ACC with Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech) and Celeste Taylor (Duke) to make the list that features 15 of the best defensive players in the country.Â
The Nashville native has been a menace on defense this season, where she is first in the ACC and fifth in the nation in steals with 66, while she is first in the conference and 15th in the country in steals per game (3.0). Waggoner is well on her way to breaking the single-season program record in steals, as she is 24 from passing Ann Odoy's mark of 89 in 1985-86.
Waggoner is having a breakout season, leading the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), rebounds (7.5) and steals. She is one of two players in the nation averaging at least 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game and is one of two players in the ACC to post at least three games of 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game (Kitley).Â
In addition, she's made her case as the Most Improved Player in the ACC, increasing her scoring average by 10.2 points per contest, which is the highest increase in the conference. Waggoner is averaging career highs across the board, and helped BC upset then-No. 10/9 NC State and down Florida State earlier this season. Because of her efforts, she was named ACC Player of the Week and NCAA.com's Starting Five.Â
Waggoner and the Eagles will aim to snap a four-game skid at Miami on Thursday at 6 pm. on RSN.Â
Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
| Brea Beal | Senior | G | South Carolina |
| Aliyah Boston | Senior | F | South Carolina |
| Cameron Brink | Junior | F | Stanford |
| Brooke Flowers | Senior | F/C | St. Louis |
| Lauren Gustin | Junior | F | BYU |
| Taiyanna Jackson | Junior | C | Kansas |
| Leilani Kapinus | Sophomore | G | Penn State |
| Elizabeth Kitley | Senior | C | Virginia Tech |
| Rayah Marshall | Sophomore | G/F | USC |
| Aneesah Morrow | Sophomore | F | DePaul |
| Ny'Ceara Pryor | Freshman | G | Sacred Heart |
| Helena Pueyo | Senior | G | Arizona |
| Angel Reese | Sophomore | F | LSU |
| Celeste Taylor | Senior | G | Duke |
| Dontavia Waggoner | Junior | G | Boston College |
