March 4, 2005
DALLAS - Chelsea Whitaker (Baylor) was named Big 12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week and A'Quonesia Franklin (Texas A&M) was chosen Big 12 Rookie of the Week in the league's final selections of the 2004-05 season, the conference office announced Friday.
Whitaker received her first Big 12 honor while Franklin is recognized for the third consecutive week. 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.
Whitaker, a 5-9 senior point guard, played a major role in Baylor's victory over Texas Tech which enabled the Lady Bears to claim sole possession of the program's first Big 12 Conference championship and remain undefeated in the Ferrell Center (14-0) this season. She improved upon her 4.1 scoring average with a 16-point performance on 7-of-11 shooting versus the Lady Raiders despite spraining her ankle midway through the first half. The Dallas, Texas, native shot 63.6 percent from the floor, well above her 32.9 season field goal percentage. In addition, Whitaker dished out eight assists, blocked two shots and recorded a steal.
Baylor players earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors five times this season, more than any other Big 12 team. Sophia Young was honored three times, Steffanie Blackmon and Whitaker once each.
Franklin, a 5-3 freshman point guard, played all 40 minutes against No. 11 Texas, committing two turnovers. She scored 12 points, dished out nine assists (one short of her career best), and recorded a steal. It marked the first time for Franklin to play all 40 minutes of a game. The Tyler, Texas, native ranks second in the league and the nation in assist to turnover ratio (3.37). She leads all major conference leaders accept the Big 12's Erin Grant (Texas Tech) in assist to turnover ratio. Among league freshman, Franklin leads in assists per game and is second in steals.
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
Feb. 14 -- Dionnah Jackson, Oklahoma
Feb. 21 -- Steffanie Blackmon, Baylor
Feb. 28 -- Kendra Wecker, Kansas State
March 4 -- Chelsea Whitaker, 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
Feb. 14 -- Danielle Page, Nebraska
Feb. 21 -- A'Quonesia Franklin, Texas A&M
Feb. 28 -- A'Quonesia Franklin, Texas A&M
March 4 -- A'Quonesia Franklin, Texas A&M
