January 16, 2006
Texas A&M?â„¢s Morenike Atunrase was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 29 points in the Aggies?â„¢ win at Kansas on Sunday, the league office announced Monday.
Atunrase, last season?â„¢s Big 12 Freshman of the Year, averaged 23 points during two wins for the Aggies (home vs. Kansas State, 66-39; at Kansas, 78-64). Both opponents were receiving votes in the polls.
?It?â„¢s very unusual to have anyone on our team score 29 points,? A&M coach Gary Blair said. ?But knowing the capability of Morenike to off, I don?â„¢t think there are too many players that can combine her ability to shoot the three, get the steals, and block shots at the three position. She gives you the complete package and it?â„¢s her first year to play that position.?
She is the fifth player at A&M to earn the honor since the league?â„¢s inception. The last player to be named Big 12 Player of the Week from A&M was Toccara Williams in Feb. of 2004.
Against Kansas State, Atunrase, a sophomore guard/forward from Shreveport, La., came off the bench to lead the Aggies with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. She connected on 7-of-16 field goals as the Aggies beat K-State for the first time since 1999.
Then, at Kansas, Atunrase, who stands 5-foot-10, scored a career-high 29 points as she drained a career-high 5 three-pointers. Previously she had not made more than two in a game. Atunrase also drained four straight free throws for the Aggies in the final two minutes as part of 12 straight by the team to seal its first Big 12 victory on the road in eight games.
Atunrase was 9-of-15 from the field, 5-of-8 from three-point range, and 6-of-8 from the line against Kansas. She also blocked five shots to move into third place all-time at A&M and tallied two steals.
For the week, Atunrase shot 52 percent from the field, 46 percent from three-point range, and 69 percent from the free throw line.
Atunrase averages 17 points a game in Big 12 play to rank fifth in the league. She is the only player in the Big 12 to rank in the top five in the league overall in steals and blocked shots.
The Aggies (14-3, 3-1), who are receiving votes The Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time since Jan. 2001, will play at No. 8 Baylor (12-2, 2-2) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center in Waco.