March 03, 2006
Texas A&M sophomore forward Morenike Atunrase was named to the All-Big 12 First Team by the league?â„¢s head coaches Friday the conference office announced.
Atunrase, from Shreveport, La. (Southwood High School), is the Aggies leading scorer at 13.9 points a game. She also leads the team in blocks with 51 and steals with 53. She is the only player in the Big 12 to rank in the top six in blocks and steals.
?People are starting to recognize her as an all-purpose player,? A&M coach Gary Blair said. ?Every team has a leading scorer given each night, but not here at Texas A&M. When Morenike does not lead us in points she will lead us in steals, blocks, or whatever we need from her. She?â„¢s a very unselfish player.?
Atunrase becomes the second player at A&M to earn All-Big 12 First Team honors. She joins former standout Toccara Williams who earned the honor in 2004.
A&M point guard A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades.
A sophomore from Tyler, Texas, Franklin leads the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.42. She ranks in the top three nationally among major conference leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio. Franklin is a two-year starter for the Aggies and along with Atunrase serves as a team captain.
?Over the last part of the conference season, I think Aqua (Franklin) has played as good as any point guard in the Big 12,? Blair said. ?When you look at our team she is vastly underrated. But when you look nationally, she is a leader in assist-to-turnover ratio. That?â„¢s what being a point guard is all about. She keys our press, fastbreak, calls every play and is an extension of me.?
For the first time, the league?â„¢s head coaches selected a Big 12 All-Rookie Team. Earning selection to that team from A&M was freshman guard Takia Starks.
Starks, a freshman from Houston Westfield High School, has been a starter at the shooting guard position nearly the entire season. She is the Aggies number two scorer at 11.6 points a game.
?She?â„¢s been our most consistent guard all season,? Blair said. ?We run a lot of plays for her because she can create her own shot. She?â„¢s getting better every day. In years to come she will be the premier two-guard in the league. She?â„¢s lived up to what we expected of her when we signed her. I think she?â„¢s made the most of the early playing time she?â„¢s earned here.?
The Aggies (22-7, 11-5) are ranked No. 25 nationally and posted its best ever finish in the Big 12 with a third place showing. A&M received a bye in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women?â„¢s Championship next week in Dallas and will face the winner of first round competition between Nebraska/Colorado.
A&M won an impressive seven games more in Big 12 play this year than it did a season ago. It marks the second best two-year turnaround for a team with a sub-.500 record. Kansas State posted a +9 in from 2001 to 2002.
ALL-BIG 12 HONORS
Morenike Atunrase All-Big 12 First Team
A?â„¢Quonesia Franklin All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Takia Starks Big 12 All-Rookie Team