Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 List Announced

The John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 was announced today by The Los Angeles Athletic Club on the nationally recognized “Women’s Sports Central” podcast, hosted by women’s basketball experts Brenda VanLengen and Mechelle Voepel. Selected by the Wooden Award National Advisory Board, the list is made up of 20 student-athletes who, based on their performances in November, December, and January, are the frontrunners for college basketball’s most prestigious honor.

Stanford senior Nneka Ogwumike and Baylor junior Brittney Griner were Wooden Award All Americans in 2011, with Ogwumike also garnering the honor in 2010, and they continue to put up impressive numbers in 2012. Ogwumike leads the Pac-12 in scoring (22.9 ppg, No. 5 nationally as of 1/21/12) and rebounding (11.2 rpg, No. 8 nationally), guiding her team to a Top 5 national ranking. Griner is averaging 22.7 points per game (No. 8 nationally) for the No. 1-ranked Bears, and also ranks No. 19 in rebounding (10.3) and No. 1 in blocked shots (5.1). The nation’s current top scorer, Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne (27.9 ppg), also made the midseason list.

All six underclassmen named to the Wooden Award ballot in 2011 return to the midseason Top 20 in 2012. In addition to Griner and Nneka Ogwumike, these players include Georgetown’s Sugar Rodgers, Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins, Shekinna Stricklen of Tennessee, and Shenise Johnson of Miami. Ohio State’s Samantha Prahalis was on the ballot in 2010, along with Stricklen, Nneka Ogwumike and Delle Donne.

In terms of conference representation, the Big East leads the way with five Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 selections, followed by the ACC with four; the SEC with three; and the Big 12, Big 10, Pac-12 and CAA each with two. Five schools had two players chosen: Notre Dame (Diggins and Natalie Novosel); Tennessee (Stricklen and Glory Johnson); Stanford (Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike—the first pair of sisters ever named to the midseason list); Baylor (Griner and Odyssey Sims) and Connecticut (Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis). Mosqueda-Lewis and Elizabeth Williams of Duke were the only freshmen chosen.

The 36th annual Wooden Award Gala will take place on Friday, April 6, 2012, and will honor winners, All Americans and the Legends of Coaching winner Geno Auriemma of Connecticut.

2011-12 John R. Wooden Award Women’s - Midseason Top 20 List

Alex Bentley, 5'7", Jr., G, Penn State, Big Ten.
Elena Delle Donne, 6'5", Jr., F/G, Delaware, CAA.
Skylar Diggins, 5'9", Jr., G, Notre Dame, Big East.
Shante Evans, 6'0", Jr., F, Hofstra, CAA.
Brittney Griner*, 6'8", Jr., C, Baylor, Big 12.
Bria Hartley, 5'7", Soph., G, Connecticut, Big East.
Glory Johnson, 6'3", GS, F, Tennessee, SEC.
Shenise Johnson, 5'11", Sr., G, Miami, ACC.
A’dia Mathies, 5'9", Jr., G, Kentucky, SEC.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, 6'0", Fr., F, Connecticut, Big East.
Natalie Novosel, 5'11", Sr., G, Notre Dame, Big East.
Chiney Ogwumike, 6'3", Soph., F, Stanford, Pac-12.
Nneka Ogwumike*, 6'2", Sr., F, Stanford, Pac-12.
Samantha Prahalis, 5'7", Sr., G, Ohio State, Big Ten.
Sugar Rodgers, 5'11", Jr., G, Georgetown , Big East.
Odyssey Sims, 5'9", Soph., G, Baylor, Big 12.
Shekinna Stricklen, 6'2", Sr., G/F, Tennessee, SEC.
Alyssa Thomas, 6'2" Soph., F, Maryland, ACC.
Elizabeth Williams, 6'3", Fr., C, Duke, ACC.
Riquna Williams, 5'7", Sr., G, Miami, ACC.

(Players listed alphabetically.)
*indicates player was 2011 Wooden Award All American
GS -- indicates Graduate student

Women's basketball finalists announced for 2011-'12 Lowe's Senior Class Award

On Wednesday, ten NCAA® women’s basketball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court were selected as finalists for the 2011-12 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of finalists follows this release.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 60 candidates announced in November. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to determine the winner. Fans are encouraged to vote on either the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award website or the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award Facebook fan page through March 18. Fan votes will be combined with media and Division I women’s basketball head coaches’ votes to determine the winner.

Lowe’s, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the women’s award winner will be announced during the NCAA Women’s Final Four®, which will be held April 1 and 3 in Denver.

For more information on all the finalists, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.


Women’s Basketball 2011-12 Finalists
Denise Beliveau - Forward, New Hampshire
Brittany Carter - Guard, Memphis
Lauren Edwards - Guard, Princeton
Amanda Johnson - Forward, Oregon
Emilie Johnson - Guard, UC Santa Barbara
Michelle Kurowski - Guard, UMBC
Natalie Novosel - Guard, Notre Dame
Nnemkadi Ogwumike - Forward, Stanford
Justine Raterman - Forward, Dayton
Brittany Rayburn - Guard, Purdue

St. Bonaventure's Jessica Jenkins Named National Player of the Week

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected St. Bonaventure guard Jessica Jenkins as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, January 22. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through February 21 this season.

As the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week, Jenkins was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Jenkins, a 5'8" senior from Marion, OH, set the Atlantic Ten record for career three-pointers at 293 knocking down six as part of the 23 points she scored in Saturday's win at Charlotte. She also had 18 points in the previous win over Richmond.

She is the Bonnies' leading scorer with a 14.7 average and is fifth in the Atlantic Ten in scoring helping the Bonnies (18-2, 5-0 Atlantic Ten) to first place in the conference.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four.

2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky (Southeastern Conference)
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor (Big 12 Conference)
• Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week of Jan. 1: Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown (Big East Conference)
• Week of Jan. 8: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (Colonial Athletic Association)
• Week of Jan. 15: Brittany Rayburn, Purdue (Big Ten Conference)
• Week of Jan. 22: Jessica Jenkins, St. Bonaventure (Atlantic 10 Conference)

Purdue's Rayburn is National Player of the Week

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Purdue guard Brittany Rayburn as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, January 15. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through February 21 this season.

As the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, Rayburn was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Rayburn, a 6'0" senior from Attica, IN, tied an NCAA record with 12 three-pointers in a 72-55 win at Minnesota followed by a 57-55 win over Iowa at home with 14 points and a game-saving block at the finish.

She is the Boilermakers' leading scorer with a 15.1 average and is shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range, helping Purdue (15-3, 5-0 Big Ten) to the top spot in the Big Ten standings.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four.


2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor
• Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford
• Week of Jan. 1: Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown
• Week of Jan. 8: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware
• Week of Jan. 15: Brittany Rayburn, Purdue

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Delaware guard/forward Elena Delle Donne as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, January 8. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.

As the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week, Delle Donne was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Delle Donne, a 6'5" junior from Wilmington, DE, averaged 38.5 points in two CAA wins at home over Towson and on the road at George Mason, scoring 37 and 40 points, respectively, while grabbing 15 rebounds in the win at George Mason.

She is the nation’s leading scorer with a 30.3 average, has a 10.2 rebounding average, and has led Delaware (12-1) to its first national ranking this season and best start in school history. Now totaling 1,725 points Delle Donne last week became the Blue Hen’s all-time scorer in just 63 games. Cindy Johnson’s previous mark of 1,675 points took 113 games to set.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

Since the 1987-'88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season.

2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor
• Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford
• Week of Jan. 1: Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown
• Week of Jan. 8: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware

SEC Launches "We Back Pat" Week

The Southeastern Conference in cooperation with its 12-member institutions announces “We Back Pat” Week, a week-long initiative focused on bringing awareness and recognition to the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and its fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
             
During the week of January 15-22, SEC member institutions will support the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund during their home basketball games. During the 17 women’s and 12 men’s games slated for the week, various efforts will be made to increase awareness of the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund. Twenty of these games will be televised.  

The Pat Summitt Foundation Fund will make grants to nonprofits which provide:
• Education and awareness of Alzheimer's, its onset and treatment
• Support services to patients, their families and caregivers
• Research to treat, prevent, cure, and ultimately eradicate this disease

Complete List of Women's Games During ‘WE BACK PAT WEEK’

15 (Sunday)
*Ole Miss at Alabama, 2:00 p.m.
*Auburn at Arkansas (FSN), 1:30 p.m.
*LSU at Florida (CSS), 1:00 p.m. ET
*Georgia at Mississippi State, 2:00 p.m.
*Kentucky at South Carolina, 3:00 p.m. ET
*Vanderbilt at Tennessee (SECN), 2:00 p.m. ET

19 (Thursday)
*Alabama at Florida, 7:00 p.m. ET
*Vanderbilt at Arkansas, 7:00 p.m.
*South Carolina at Auburn, 6:00 p.m.
*Kentucky at Georgia, 7:00 p.m. ET
*LSU at Tennessee (CSS), 7:00 p.m. ET
*Mississippi State at Ole Miss, 7:00 p.m.

22 (Sunday)
*Arkansas at LSU (FSN), 2:00 p.m.
*Auburn at Mississippi State, 2:00 p.m.
*Florida at Kentucky (SECN), 2:00 p.m. ET
*Georgia at Ole Miss (CSS), 2:00 p.m.
*South Carolina at Vanderbilt (ESPNU), 12:30 p.m.

Hoyas' Sugar Rodgers Named National Player of the Week

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) has selected Georgetown guard Sugar Rodgers as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, January 1. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through February 21 this season.


As the Big East Conference Player of the Week, Rodgers was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.


Rodgers, a 5'11" junior guard from Suffolk, Va., averaged 36.5 points in two games in Dartmouth’s Blue Sky Classic, matching a career high with 34 points against Vermont and then topping it the next day with 39 points against the host Big Green to be named MVP of the tournament. She leads the Hoyas (12-2) and the Big East in scoring and is 17th in the NCAA rankings.


This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.



2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor
• Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford
• Week of Jan. 1: Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown

Stanford's Nneka Ogwumike National Player of the Week

ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Stanford forward Nnemkadi Ogwumike as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 25. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.

As the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week, Ogwumike was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Ogwumike, a 6'2" senior from Cypress, Texas (Cy Fair High School), scored 42 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the No. 5 Cardinal to a 97-80 win over No. 6 Tennessee Tuesday in front of a sellout crowd of 7,329 in Maples Pavilion. Two days later she scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and dealt four assists in just 13 minutes as Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer gave her star a rest in an easy 90-48 home win over Cal State Bakersfield.

Ogwumike leads the Cardinal (9-1) with a 24.0 scoring average and an 11.0 rebounding average despite missing the season opener against Texas with an upper body injury.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

The winner of the 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four.

2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor
• Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford

Baylor's Griner is Named National Player of the Week

I started a new temp job earlier this month; and, the job has disrupted / slowed down my hoops coverage; but, more importantly, the job is paying bills.

But, enough about me...Earlier this week,...

St. Louis, MO -- The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Baylor forward Brittney Griner as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 18. 

The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.
As the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, Griner was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Griner, a 6-8 junior from Houston, Texas, scored 25 points, blocked nine shots and grabbed nine rebounds and also set the Big 12 career for blocked shots as the top-ranked Bears rallied over No. 2 Connecticut Sunday 66-61 before a sellout crowd of more than 10,000 in Waco, Texas. Griner leads the Bears in scoring with a 23.0 points per game average and in rebounds with 10.5, while also leading in blocked shots this season with 58.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four.

2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor