University of Memphis Athletics
Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir Honored by USBWA With Most Courageous Award
Feb 17, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2011
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Redshirt freshman point guard Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir has been honored by the United States Basketball Writers Association as one of two recipients of the organization's Most Courageous Award it was announced by the USBWA Thursday. Another Conference USA student-athlete, Rice's Arsalan Kazemi, was the recipient of the men's award. Kazemi is the first NCAA Division I college basketball player to come from Iran.
Abdul-Qaadir is believed to be the first Muslim female student-athlete to play with her arms, legs and hair covered in accordance with her Muslim faith. She has played in all 25 games for Memphis this season and is in Hattiesburg, Miss., tonight with her Tiger teammates to face host Southern Miss, at 7 p.m. in Reed Green Coliseum.
She has posted two double-digit scoring efforts this season, including a career-best 15 points in a road win at Indiana earlier this season. She is averaging 3.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game and is tied for fifth on the squad in steals with 22 on the year. The daughter of Tariq and Alooah Abdul-Qaadir, Bilqis is majoring in Exercise Science with plans to go to school for physical therapy following her undergraduate career.
Abdul-Qaadir will be presented her Most Courageous Award at the Women's NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis on April 5th. You can read the complete USBWA release about both Kazemi and Abdul-Qaadir here.
