SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior Kaila Charles of the Maryland women's basketball team is one of 20 small forwards in the country named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List Wednesday.
 
This is the second straight year Charles has been on the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List. At the end of last season, she was one of five finalists for the Award.
 
Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and Class of 1995 Hall of Famer, the annual award in its third year recognizes the top small forwards in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. For the full list, visit hoophallawards.com.
 
Charles was voted the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by both the league's head coaches and media panel earlier this week. She was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection last season and was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team Monday as well.
 
Charles is the top returning scorer in the league with 17.0 points per contest last year. She averaged 6.7 boards per game, good for 15th in the conference and 48.6 percent from the field. Charles was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection at the end of last season. She ended the year with All-America honors from the Associated Press, the WBCA and the USBWA.
 
The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women's college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers. New to the award this season is Fan Voting presented by Dell Technologies in each of the three rounds. By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2020 Cheryl Miller Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Miller and the Hall of Fame's selection committee.
 
The winner of the 2020 Cheryl Miller Small Forward Award will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 10, 2020, along with the other four members of the Women's Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award, the Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard Award, the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award, and the Lisa Leslie Center Award, in addition to the Men's Starting Five.
 
Maryland was picked by both the Big Ten head coaches and the league's media panel to win the conference title this season.
 
The Terrapins are No. 5 in the preseason ESPNW and NCAA polls. The preseason Associated Press poll will be released Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Last season, the Terrapins earned a record of 29-5 last season and won the Big Ten regular season title. They advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship game for the fifth straight year and then went to the NCAA Second Round.
 
The Terps welcome back all five starters, including Charles, Taylor Mikesell, Blair Watson and All-Big Ten honorees Stephanie Jones and Shakira Austin.
 
This year, Maryland welcomes the No. 3 freshman class in the country, featuring Faith Masonius, Diamond Miller, Ashley Owusu and Zoe Young, as well as transfer Mimi Collins.
 
The Terrapins' non-conference schedule is highlighted by contests with South Carolina, Clemson and North Carolina State. The Terrapins will also take on RPI top-50 team Quinnipiac and 2019 NCAA Tournament participant Belmont.
 
The Terrapins will officially open the new season on Tuesday, Nov. 5 with a home matchup against Wagner at 11 a.m. 
 
Maryland will host Cal U in its first of two exhibitions on Friday, Oct. 25 and Lincoln University in its second exhibition on Tuesday, Oct. 29.


Parking around the XFINITY Center is free in Lots 4b, 9b, TTG, and 11b after 4 p.m. Monday thru Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Specific parking instructions for the Nov. 5 game will be posted on umterps.com. Fans are reminded to adhere to all posted parking signage for those lots and all other lots.
 
Tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now. To purchase, click here. For ticket information for the upcoming season, log on to the Terrapin Ticket Office online umterps.com or call 1-800-IM-A-TERP.