Feb. 7, 2005
DALLAS - Sophia Young (Baylor) was named Big 12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week and Morenike Atunrase (Texas A&M) was chosen Big 12 Rookie of the Week for games played from Jan. 31-Feb. 6, the conference office announced Monday.
Young earned her third Big 12 honor of the season and the sixth of her career, four times as Player of the Week and twice as Rookie of the Week. Atunrase was recognized for the third time this season. Players are nominated by each school's sports information office and voted on by a panel of media who cover Big 12 women's basketball.
Young, a 6-1 junior forward, led Baylor to two victories over Top 15 teams last week, a home win over No. 15 Kansas State and a road win over No. 12 Texas Tech. The win at Texas Tech was Baylor's first in Lubbock since 1982. The St. Vincent, West Indies, native posted double-doubles in both contests. For the week she averaged 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, recording her league-leading 10th and 11th double-doubles of the season. Young was 17-of-32 (.531) from the floor and also registered four steals. Against Kansas State she tallied 15 points and 13 rebounds and versus Texas Tech she registered 24 points and 10 rebounds. Young averages 17.5 points ad 9.8 rebounds a game and in conference games she scores 19.5 points and hauls down 11.5 boards. She is Baylor's leader in scoring, rebounding, blocks (19), steals (39), and shooting percentage (.511).
Atunrase, a 5-10 freshman forward, averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks in two games for the Aggies last week at No. 13 Texas and in a victory at home against Colorado. Against Colorado, Atunrase registered 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals, and three blocks as the Aggies recorded their first victory over Colorado since the inception of the Big 12. It marked the most points Atunrase had scored in Big 12 play. She was 7-of-18 from the field while connecting on her lone three point attempt and was perfect at the free throw line on 4-of-4 during 35 minutes. Earlier in the week at Texas, the Shreveport, La., native notched 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block. She was 8-of-18 from the field including 2-of-3 from three-point range. The Aggies' leading scorer, Atunrase is looking to become just the second freshman at A&M to lead the team in scoring. Atunrase tops the Big 12 freshmen in scoring, steals and blocks.
Big 12 Player of the Week
Nov. 22 -- Sophia Young, Baylor
Nov. 29 -- Kendra Wecker, Kansas State
Dec. 6 -- Dionnah Jackson, Oklahoma
Dec. 13 -- Alesha Robertson, Texas Tech
Dec. 20 -- Anne O'Neil, Iowa State
Jan. 3 -- Kendra Wecker, Kansas State
Jan. 10 -- Sophia Young, Baylor
Jan. 17 -- Kiera Hardy, Nebraska
Jan. 24 -- Nina Norman, Texas
Jan. 31 -- Tiffany Jackson, Texas
Feb. 7 -- Sophia Young, Baylor
Big 12 Rookie of the Week
Nov. 22 -- Kara Richards, Colorado
Nov. 29 -- Kassie Drew, Missouri
Dec. 6 -- Jackie McFarland, Colorado and Patrice Reado, Texas A&M
Dec. 13 -- Morenike Atunrase, Texas A&M
Dec. 20 -- Patrice Reado, Texas A&M
Jan. 3 -- Jackie McFarland, Colorado and Patrice Reado, Texas A&M
Jan. 10 -- Jelena Spiric, Nebraska
Jan. 17 -- Jelena Spiric, Nebraska
Jan. 24 -- Morenike Atunrase, Texas A&M
Jan. 31 -- Danielle Page, Nebraska and Darrice Griffin, Texas Tech
Feb. 7 -- Morenike Atunrase, Texas A&M
