Houston Roundball Review Women's Hoops Blog

USBWA Announces Women's Player of the Year Midseason Watch List

2012-02-09T19:01:00.002-06:00

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) has selected 20 outstanding players for its first Midseason Watch List for the Women's National Player of the Year. Members of the association's board of directors chose the players to be included on the list as contenders for the trophy, which will be presented to the national player of the year in Denver at the USBWA's Women's College Basketball Awards Breakfast on April 3.

Three Notre Dame teammates headline the list, which also has a pair of real sister teammates at Stanford and two stars each from Baylor, Connecticut, Miami and Ohio State. The Irish trio are Skylar Diggins, Natalie Novosel and Devereaux Peters, who are joined by Nneka Ogwumike and her younger sister Chiney at Stanford; Buckeyes standouts Tayler Hill and Samantha Prahalis; Hurricanes backcourt stars Shenise Johnson and Riquna Williams; Huskies teammates Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (the lone freshman on the list); and the Bears inside-outside combo of Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims.

Following is the complete watch list:

2012 Women's Player of the Year Midseason List

Pos.	No.	Player	School	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown
G/F	11	Elena Delle Donne	Delaware	6'5"	Jr.	Wilmington, DE
G	4	Skylar Diggins	Notre Dame	5'9"	Jr.	South Bend, IN
G	12	Chelsea Gray	Duke	5'11"	Soph.	Stockton, CA
C	42	Brittney Griner	Baylor	6'8"	Jr.	Houston, TX
G	14	Bria Hartley	Connecticut	5'7"	Soph.	North Babylon, NY
G	4	Tayler Hill	Ohio State	5'10"	Jr.	Minneapolis, MN
G	42	Shenise Johnson	Miami (FL)	5'11"	Sr.	Henrietta, NY
G	1	A'dia Mathies	Kentucky	5'9"	Jr.	Louisville, KY
F	23	Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis	Connecticut	6'0"	Fr.	Anaheim Hills, CA
G	21	Natalie Novosel	Notre Dame	5'11"	Sr.	Lexington, KY
F	13	Chiney Ogwumike	Stanford	6'3"	Soph.	Cypress, TX
F	30	Nneka Ogwumike	Stanford	6'2"	Sr.	Cypress, TX
F	14	Devereaux Peters	Notre Dame	6'2"	Sr.	Chicago, IL
G	21	Samantha Prahalis	Ohio State	5'7"	Jr.	Commack, NY
F	24	Niveen Rasheed	Princeton	6'0"	Jr.	Danville, CA
G	14	Sugar Rodgers	Georgetown	5'11"	Jr.	Suffolk, VA
G	1	Khadijah Rushdan	Rutgers	5'9"	Sr.	Wilmington, DE
G	0	Odyssey Sims	Baylor	5'9"	Soph.	Irving, TX
F	25	Alyssa Thomas	Maryland	6'2"	Soph.	Harrisburg, PA
G	1	Riquna Williams	Miami (FL)	5'7"	Sr.	Pahokee, FL

By conference: Big East (7); ACC (4); Big Ten (2); Big 12 (2); Pac-12 (2); CAA (1); Ivy (1); SEC (1).

By class: Seniors (6); Juniors (8); Sophomores (5); Freshmen (1).

While these standout players are the leading contenders to be named to the USBWA's All-America Team and as finalists for the Women's National Player of the Year award, all Division I players remain eligible for postseason honors from the USBWA. The association will announce its 2012 All-America Team in mid-March. At that time, finalists will also be chosen for the player of the year. Once finalists are announced, the entire USBWA membership will vote for the winner of the National Player of the Year.

2012 WBCA High School All-Americans Announced

2012-02-08T22:23:00.004-06:00

The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced the participants for the 2012 WBCA High School All-America Game on Wednesday. The nation's top 20 high school senior girls' basketball players have been selected to compete in the annual game.

The 21st annual All-America Game, which is held as part of the WBCA National Convention, will be played Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the Pepsi Center, in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA® Women's Final Four®. Tipoff is 4:30 p.m. MT. For the third consecutive year, the game will be played on the official NCAA Women's Final Four court. The 20 players will be divided into two 10-player teams for the game, which will be played according to NCAA rules.

Here are the 20 players selected to participate in the 2012 WBCA High School All-America Game:

Name -- School -- Hometown -- Signed

Jordan Adams -- Mater Dei HS, Irvine, CA -- USC

Kahleah Copper -- Prep Charter HS, Philadelphia, PA -- Rutgers

Nirra Fields -- Mater Dei HS, South Euclid, OH -- UCLA

Bashaara Graves -- Clarksville HS, Clarksville, TN -- Tennessee

Malina Howard -- Twinsburg HS, Twinsburg, OH -- Maryland

Moriah Jefferson -- Texas Home Ed Sports Assoc., Glenn Heights, TX -- Connecticut

Alexis Jones -- MacArthur HS, Irving, TX -- Duke

Jasmine Jones -- Bob Jones HS, Madison, AL -- Undeclared

Jonquel Jones -- Riverdale Baptist HS, Ellicott City, MD. -- Clemson

Jordan Jones -- DeSoto HS, DeSoto, TX -- Texas A&M

Nicole Kornet -- Liberty Christian School, Lantana, TX -- Oklahoma

Jewell Loyd -- Niles West HS, Lincolnwood, IL -- Notre Dame

Michaela Mabrey -- Manasquan HS, Holmdel, NJ -- Notre Dame

Xylina McDaniel -- Spring Valley HS, Blythewood, SC -- North Carolina

Tierney Pfirman -- South Williamsport HS, Williamsport, PA -- Maryland

Alexis Prince -- Edgewater HS, Maitland, FL -- Baylor

Imani Stafford -- Windward School, Los Angeles, CA -- Texas

Breanna Stewart -- Cicero-North Syracuse HS, North Syracuse, NY -- Connecticut

Morgan Tuck -- Bolingbrook HS Bolingbrook, IL -- Connecticut

Courtney Williams -- North Shore HS, Houston, TX -- Texas A&M

Eight players added to Wade Watch List

2012-02-07T21:08:00.001-06:00

The State Farm® Wade Trophy Committee has added eight additional student-athletes to the 2011-12 State Farm Wade Watch list, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), on behalf of the Wade Trophy Coalition.

Joining the preseason list of 25 “Wade Watch” hopefuls are Tayler Hill and Samantha Prahalis of Ohio State, Jordan Hooper of Nebraska, Anna Martin of DePaul, A’dia Mathies of Kentucky, Khadijah Rushdan of Rutgers, Alyssa Thomas of Maryland and Julie Wojta of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

State Farm and the Wade Trophy Coalition present The State Farm Wade Trophy to the nation’s most outstanding NCAA® Division I women’s basketball player each year – one who not only excels athletically but also serves as a positive role model both on and off the court. The acclaimed Wade Watch list, from which The State Farm Wade Trophy recipient is chosen, consists of players selected on the basis of game and season statistics, leadership, character, effect on their team, and overall playing ability.

The State Farm Wade Watch list will be trimmed to 12 finalists in mid-March. State Farm and the Wade Trophy Coalition will officially announce the State Farm Wade Trophy winner during the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four® in Denver.

Here is the complete 2011-12 State Farm Wade Watch list:

LaSondra Barrett, senior, forward, Louisiana State

Alex Bentley, junior, guard, Penn State

Cierra Bravard, senior, forward, Florida State

Carolyn Davis, junior, forward, Kansas

Elena Delle Donne, junior, forward, Delaware

Skylar Diggins, junior, guard, Notre Dame

Jasmine Dixon, senior, forward, UCLA

Stefanie Dolson, sophomore, center, Connecticut

Brittney Griner, junior, center, post, Baylor

Keisha Hampton, senior, forward, DePaul

Bria Hartley, sophomore, guard, Connecticut

Tiffany Hayes, senior, guard, Connecticut

Tayler Hill, junior, guard, Ohio State

Jordan Hooper, sophomore, forward, Nebraska

Glory Johnson, senior, forward, Tennessee

Shenise Johnson, senior, guard, Miami

Anna Martin, junior, guard, DePaul

A’dia Mathies, junior, guard Kentucky

Natalie Novosel, senior, guard Notre Dame

Chiney Ogwumike, sophomore, forward, Stanford

Nneka Ogwumike, senior, forward, Stanford

Devereaux Peters, senior, forward, Notre Dame

Samantha Prahalis, senior, guard, Ohio State

Jaime Printy, junior, guard, Iowa

Monique Reid, senior, forward, Louisville

Sugar Rodgers, junior, guard, Georgetown

Khadijah Rushdan, senior, guard, Rutgers

Odyssey Sims, sophomore, guard, Baylor

Shekinna Stricklen, senior, guard, Tennessee

Alyssa Thomas, sophomore, forward, Maryland

Tyra White, senior, guard, Texas A&M

Riquna Williams, senior, guard, Miami

Julie Wojta, senior, guard, Wisconsin-Green Bay

The Wade Trophy, named after the late, legendary three-time national champion Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, debuted in 1978 as the first-ever women's national player of the year award in college basketball. The Wade Trophy Coalition was established in June 2000 when the WBCA partnered with The National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS). For the past 10 years the two have worked together to present The State Farm Wade Trophy player of the year award. A committee composed of coaches, administrators and media from across the U.S. selects the winner.

South Carolina's Grant named National Player of the Week

2012-02-07T20:26:00.001-06:00

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected South Carolina guard Markeshia Grant as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, February 5. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through February 21 this season.

As the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, Grant 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.

Grant, a 5'6" senior from Tampa, FL, scored a career-high 27 points, including a career-high seven 3-pointers (two short of the school record) as the Gamecocks recorded their first-ever win over Tennessee in Knoxville and their first over the Lady Vols since 1980.

During South Carolina's current four-game win streak, which returned the Gamecocks to The Associated Press Top 25 for the second time this season, Grant is shooting 44.4 percent from 3-point range.

She is South Carolina's leading scorer with an 11.0 average playing for coach Dawn Staley, one of the all-time great point guards in women's basketball history.

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 (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)
• Week of Jan. 29: Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut (Big East Conference)
• Week of Feb. 5: Markeshia Grant, South Carolina (Southeastern Conference)

Tryouts for Houstonians Basketball Team(s)

2012-02-03T18:37:00.000-06:00

One of the top Houston area girls AAU basketball programs, the Houstonians, will have tryouts on Saturday, February 18th, at St. Thomas More Catholic School.

When: Feb. 18, 2012, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Where: St. Thomas More Catholic School, 10330 Hillcroft (Houston, TX 77096)

Contact Coach Phyllis Morris, 713-446-6454, for more information.

2012 NCAA Mock Selection Exercise

2012-01-31T21:37:00.000-06:00

The 2012 NCAA Mock Selection Exercise will take place in a couple of weeks in Indianapolis, IN, at NCAA Headquarters; and, I'll be a participant once again. My first time participating was in 2010. Yesterday, the NCAA emailed the attendees our homework assignments and who we will be working with as well as which committee member we'll represent.

I'll be working with former Duke basketball player (and current ESPN basketball analyst) Abby Waner.

The "mock" selection exercise is an opportunity for "a select group of media, conference media relations directors and others who will fulfill responsibilities typically handled by members of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee in regard to the selection, seeding and bracketing process for the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship".

The attendees have been assigned primary and secondary conferences; and, we have been asked to be as knowledgeable and informed as possible regarding teams throughout each region of the country, specifically those teams that should be “under consideration” for selection into the “mock tournament field.”

For exercise purposes, our homework contains the “regular season champions” and “conference tournament champions (automatic qualifiers).” The “regular season champions” were those teams leading their respective conference’s on January 27, 2012. The “conference tournament champions (automatic qualifiers)” were designated for those conference’s that have conference tournaments decided by March 9, 2012 when the committee selection meeting begins.

I learned a lot during the first "mock" selection exercise; and, I'm sure I'll learn more during the second time as a "returning veteran".

Stay tuned to this blog as well as the NCAA's blog for more information and updates.

Connecticut's Tiffany Hayes Named National Player of the Week

2012-01-31T19:01:00.000-06:00

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Connecticut guard Tiffany Hayes as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, January 29. 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, Hayes 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.

Hayes, a 5'10" senior from Lakeland, FL, scored 68 points in back-to-back wins – the most ever in UConn's storied history – averaging 34.0 points, 8.5 rebounds while shooting 70 percent from the field. In a 95-54 win over Syracuse last Monday, she scored a career-high 35 points on 11-of-15 shooting, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range. On Wednesday, she added 33 points and 10 rebounds in a 77-62 win over USF for the No. 3 Huskies (20-2).

Hayes is Connecticut's leading scorer with a 16.1 average and is fifth in the Big East in scoring.

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)
• Week of Jan. 29: Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut (Big East Conference)

Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 List Announced

2012-01-27T19:01:00.000-06:00

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

2012-01-27T18:39:00.001-06:00

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

2012-01-24T18:54:00.003-06:00

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

2012-01-17T22:35:00.003-06:00

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

2012-01-10T19:09:00.001-06:00

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

2012-01-03T19:21:00.001-06:00

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

2012-01-03T19:12:00.001-06:00

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

2011-12-27T18:41:00.000-06:00

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

2011-12-24T09:47:00.002-06:00

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

#1 Baylor vs #2 Connecticut

2011-12-17T07:45:00.001-06:00

Sunday, December 18, a matchup women's college basketball fans have been waiting for will take place:

Top-ranked Baylor vs. number two Connecticut.

One versus Two. 7:30 pm (CST). ESPN.

To borrow a phrase from a certain football player: "Get your popcorn ready."

Here are a few links to whet your appetite for what hopefully is a game that lives up to the hype:

Jeff Van Gundy (yes, JVG) previews UConn-Baylor Clash

Kim Mulkey stokes the fire at Baylor

Voepel: Baylor vs UConn is a budding rivalry

The Pink Room, Season 1, Episode 3: Baylor / UConn Stat Sheet Preview...

Renee Montgomery has an idea of how UConn must defend Baylor's Brittney Griner

4 Reasons to watch UConn-Baylor This Sunday

UConn women: Geno Auriemma, Brittney Griner meet again

Geno: It's a good time to face unbeaten Baylor

A very big thanks to my friend, Helen, (and colleague) at the Women's Hoops Blog for assembling the links in her latest Daily Digest.

Kentucky's Mathies is USBWA National Player of the Week

2011-12-14T05:59:00.004-06:00

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Kentucky guard A'dia Mathies as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, December 11. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through February. 21 this season.

Mathies, a 5-9 junior from Louisville, Ky., scored a season-high 23 points, including a career-high tying four 3-pointers (shooting 4-for-5), four rebounds and four steals as the Wildcats topped No. 6 Duke, 72-65. Mathies leads the Wildcats in scoring with a 16.8 points per game and in steals with 3.7, while also ranking second in the SEC with 5.7 rebounds per game. She is third in scoring in the conference and is seventh nationally in steals per game.

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.

Top 20 college basketball matchups on ESPN networks

2011-12-01T15:26:00.001-06:00

The Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research - a week-long initiative with special content across ESPN platforms and programs to drive awareness of and donations to The V Foundation for Cancer Research - began Wednesday, November 30, and conclude Tuesday, December 6, and includes two top-25 women's college basketball matchups.

No. 16 Purdue will travel to No. 6 Duke on Thursday, December 1, at 6 p.m. (CST) on ESPN3. Cara Capuano will have the call with analyst Abby Waner from Durham, NC.

The 10th annual Jimmy V Women's Classic will be held Tuesday, December 6, for the first time on the same evening as the Jimmy V Men's Classic (from NY). The game will include the national champions from the last three years pitting the 2011 national winner Texas A&M against the 2009 & 2010 title holder Connecticut, at 6 p.m. (CST), from Hartford, Conn.

Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research (November 30-December 6)
Thursday, December 1, 6 p.m.
#16 Purdue at # Duke
TV announcers: Cara Capuano and Abby Waner -- ESPN3

Tuesday, December 6, 6 p.m.
Jimmy V Women's Classic
#4 Texas A&M at #2 Connecticut (Hartford, Conn.)
TV announcers: Dave O'Brien, Doris Burke and Rebecca Lobo -- ESPN2 / ESPN3

Early-season Watch List announced for Naismith Award

2011-11-30T11:10:00.001-06:00

ATLANTA (Nov. 30, 2011) – The Big East Conference sits atop the 2011‐12 Naismith Women’s early‐season watch list, with 12 players from six different universities being recognized, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. The watch list includes the top women’s college basketball players from 35 schools around the country, and was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2012 college basketball season. The 2012Naismith Trophy will be awarded at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Denver.

Three schools – Notre Dame, Tennessee and Connecticut – have three players apiece on the list, while eight schools have two each. The list represents 13 different athletic conferences and features mostly upperclassmen.

“With 15 players returning from last season’s watch list, including two of last year’s finalists, this year’s Naismith Women’s Player of the Year trophy is all about experience,” said Eric Oberman, Atlanta Tipoff Club executive director. “We’re excited for all of the action to unfold and to see who is left standing at the end of the season.”

In late February, the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors will compile a mid‐season team of the top 30 players in the nation. Then in March, the Naismith Trophy voting academy will vote to narrow the list to the four finalists.

2011‐12 Naismith Trophy Early‐Season Watch List:
La Sondra Barrett, LSU - senior forward
Alex Bentley, Penn State - junior guard
Cierra Bravard, Florida State - senior forward
Brittany Carter, Memphis - senior guard
Sydney Carter, Texas A&M - senior guard
Carolyn Davis, Kansas - junior forward / center
Elena Delle Donne, Delaware - junior F/G/C
Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame - junior guard
Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut - sophomore center
Aaryn Ellenberg, Oklahoma - sophomore guard
Shante Evans, Hofstra - junior forward
Casey Garrison, Missouri State - senior guard
Jacki Gemelos, USC - grad student guard
Briana Gilbreath, USC - senior guard
Chelsea Gray, Duke - sophomore guard
Brittney Griner, Baylor - junior center
Keisha Hampton, DePaul - senior forward
Whitney Hand, Oklahoma - junior guard
Bria Hartley, Connecticut - sophomore guard
Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut - senior guard
Courtney Hurt, Virginia Commonwealth - senior forward
Jasmine James, Georgia - sophomore guard
Shenise Johnson, Miami - senior forward
Lykendra Johnson, Michigan State - senior forward
Glory Johnson, Tennessee - grad student forward
Lynetta Kizer, Maryland - senior center
Maggie Lucas, Penn State - sophomore guard
Kevi Luper, Oral Roberts - junior guard
A'dia Mathies, Kentucky - junior guard
Natalie Novosel, Notre Dame - senior guard
Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford - sophomore forward
Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford - senior forward
Shey Peddy, Temple - senior guard
Devereaux Peters, Notre Dame - senior forward
Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State senior guard
Jaime Printy, Iowa - junior guard
Justine Raterman, Dayton - senior forward
Monique Reid, Louisville - senior forward
Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown - junior guard
Khadijah Rushdan, Rutgers - senior guard
Shoni Schimmel, Louisville - sophomore guard
Naama Shafir, Toledo - senior guard
Meighan Simmons, Tennessee - sophomore guard
Odyssey Sims, Baylor - sophomore guard
Kayla Standish, Gonzaga - senior forward
Da'Shena Stevens, St. John's - Senior Forward
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee - senior guard
April Sykes, Rutgers - senior guard
Alyssa Thomas, Maryland - sophomore forward
Tyra White, Texas A&M - senior guard
Riquna Williams, Miami - senior guard

Horns' Fussell and ISU's Moody earn Big 12 Honors

2011-11-28T17:01:00.001-06:00

Chassidy Fussell (Texas) and Nikki Moody (Iowa State) were honored as Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week by a media voting panel for games from Nov. 21-27. Fussell (player) was recognized for the fourth time in her career after earning three freshman of the week accolades last season. Moody (freshman) picked up her second consecutive award.

Big 12 women's basketball players of the week named

Podcast 24, "KG & the 5th Ward Wildcat"

2011-11-18T18:30:00.001-06:00

Topics: Houston area college scores; Oklahoma State tragedy (Rest in peace); UH, Rice, and TSU men's basketball; women's college basketball; ESPN GameDay; Houston Cougars football; changes to the BCS; and more!

Main page | mp3 | iTunes | YouTube

Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna, two others killed in plane crash

2011-11-18T10:25:00.001-06:00

I heard about this tragic news this morning: Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke, assistant coach Miranda Serna, two others killed in plane crash.

Hearing the news took my breath away. I'm still stunned. I met remember years ago when she was an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech. She was an assistant coach at Fresno State before that. Both stints were in the Western Athletic Conference when the Rice Owls were in the WAC.

In fact, Miranda played basketball at the University of Houston for a year.

Each year, I looked forward to speaking with her at the Women's Final Four -- even when she put me in check about a recruit or two. Next year in Denver won't be the same without her.

Rest in peace, Miranda.

My prayers to Miranda's family, Coach Budke's family, the families of the two other people killed in the crash, and everyone impacted my this tragedy. This hurts.

ESPN Women’s College Basketball Announcers Unveiled

2011-11-09T14:27:00.000-06:00

More details in the press release.

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3 – which will combine for a record 130 women’s basketball games during the 2011-12 season and feature many of the top programs in the nation – returns a top caliber lineup of commentators featuring several new assignments.

New This Year:

While maintaining her sideline reporting duties, Rebecca Lobo will have a more consistent presence as an analyst throughout the season.

Beth Mowins, Pam Ward and Brenda VanLengen will be the primary play-by-play announcers on ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts this season, giving a consistent female voice all season. VanLengen moves over to the play-by-play role after working as an analyst in previous years.

ESPN2’s Big Monday:

The duo of Ward and Lobo will call two Big Monday games in January, all at 6 p.m. CST – No. 19 North Carolina at No. 4 Connecticut on Jan. 16 and UConn at No. 8 Duke on Jan. 30

Beginning in February, Mondays will feature doubleheaders, with Lobo and Ward moving to the 8 p.m. window. A new announcing team of Mowins and analyst Stephanie White will pair up for the 6 p.m. game. The Final Four announcing team of Dave O’Brien and Doris Burke will reunite for two Big Monday games – No. 3 Tennessee at No. 2 Notre Dame on Jan. 23 (6 p.m.) and the Irish at No. 4 Connecticut on Feb. 27 (9 p.m.), as well as select games throughout the season. Ward and White will call the No. 1 Baylor at No. 6 Texas A&M game at 6 p.m.

ESPN & ESPN2’s Studio Coverage:

Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck will be in studio for halftime, pre- and post-game coverage during ESPN and ESPN2’s Sunday and Monday night windows.

ESPNU & ESPN Regional Television (ERT):

Anne-Marie Anderson, Doug Bell and Sam Gore will call play-by-play on most ESPNU telecasts. Analysts Kayte Christensen, LaChina Robinson, Maria Taylor, Abby Waner and Brooke Weisbrod will handle the majority of ESPNU games.

Bob Picozzi will call BIG EAST Network games with Robinson. Cara Capuano with pair with Waner on SEC Network games.

Analysts Working Men’s and Women’s Games:

Burke, Lawson and Peck return to ESPN’s women’s games, while also working men’s basketball telecasts. In addition to Big Monday and select other games, Burke will work on Thursday and Saturday BIG EAST men’s telecasts. Lawson will continue her women’s basketball studio coverage, while working primarily on men’s SEC Network telecasts as well as select contests across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Peck will also work studio coverage with Lawson, and call select men’s and women’s games throughout the season.

More details in the press release.

NCAA women’s basketball candidates announced for 2011-12 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award

2011-11-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

OVERLAND PARK, KS – Thirty NCAA® women’s basketball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court were selected as candidates today 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 candidates 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 2011-2012 women’s candidate class includes one CoSIDA Academic All-American, two Associated Press All-Americans and 12 players whose teams are ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 25.

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

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, Division I men’s and women’s coaches and fans who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

2011-2012 Women's Basketball Candidates

Name	Position	School
LaSondra Barrett	Forward	LSU
Denise Beliveau	Forward	New Hampshire
Brogan Berry	Guard	Harvard
Cierra Bravard	Forward	Florida State
Kaitlyn Burke	Guard	Nebraska
Brittany Carter	Guard	Memphis
Jalana Childs	Forward	Kansas State
Lauren Edwards	Guard	Princeton
Adaora Elonu	Forward	Texas A&M
Briana Gilbreath	Guard	USC
Keisha Hampton	Forward	DePaul
Jericka Jenkins	Guard	Hampton
Amanda Johnson	Forward	Oregon
Emilie Johnson	Guard	UC Santa Barbara
Glory Johnson	Forward	Tennessee
Shenise Johnson	Guard	Miami (FL)
Michelle Kurowski	Guard	UMBC
Kristen McCarthy	Guard	Temple
Natalie Novosel	Guard	Notre Dame
Nnemkadi Ogwumike	Forward	Stanford
Chelsea Pickering	Guard	Idaho State
Abby Plucker	Forward	North Dakota State
Justine Raterman	Forward	Dayton
Brittany Rayburn	Guard	Purdue
Monique Reid	Forward	Louisville
Ericka Russell	Guard	Alabama
Naama Shafir	Guard	Toledo
Da'Shena Stevens	Forward	St. John's
Whiquitta Tobar	Guard	Alabama A&M
Corielle Yarde	Guard	Marist