Chasity Patterson is a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award

Kentucky Wildcats women’s basketball senior guard Chasity Patterson has been named one of 10 semifinalists for 2021 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year, the school announced Tuesday.

The Houston native has started all 21 games this season for the 17th-ranked Wildcats while averaging 12.9 points per game on 48.6% shooting from the field, including 36.3 percent from three-point range.

With just one week left in regular-season play, Patterson ranks top-five nationally with 67 steals and top-10 nationally with 3.19 steals per game. She’s also ranked fourth in program history in steals per game with over 3.5.

The 5-5 guard has recorded 7+ steals four times this season, including 4+ steals in three SEC games. She’s the only player in the SEC this season to record 8+ steals in a game, doing it three times.

Patterson is just as dangerous of an offensive threat, as she became just the third player in school history to score at least 30 points in a season opener, as she dropped 30 points, eight steals, six boards and three dimes in the 86-60 win over Murray State back in November. She’s also the third player in program history to record 10+ steals in a game. Patterson and Leslie Nichols are the only players to record 8+ steals in three or more games in a season.

Last season, Patterson was named the 2019-20 SEC Sixth Woman of the Year, despite playing just 19 games. She made her Kentucky debut at California on Dec. 21, 2019, after sitting out for one year because of the NCAA transfer rule. Patterson finished the season averaging 11.5 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per game with 29 assists and 25 steals.

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