Dec. 14, 2009
IRVING, Texas -
Conference USA kicks off its 2009-10 women's basketball television package tonight with UCF hosting SEC foe Alabama at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be produced and aired nationally by CSS as well as regionally by UCF's Bright House Sports Network in Orlando. Mark Wise will serve as the color analyst while Bernie Guenther will handle the play-by-play duties.
UPCOMING GAMES (all times central)
Mon., December 14
Central Michigan at UAB 7 p.m.
Alabama at UCF (BHSN/CSS) 7 p.m.
Tue., December 15
UTEP at New Mexico State 7:05 p.m.
Wed., December 16
Florida State at UCF 7 p.m.
Southern Miss at Belmont 7 p.m.
Thur., December 17
Tulane at South Florida 6 p.m.
Fri., December 18
Marshall at Morehead State 4:30 p.m.
Ole Miss at Memphis 7 p.m.
Texas State at UTEP 7:05 p.m.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
SVIATLANA TRUKSHANINA, UTEP
5-11, Jr., G (Minsk, Belarus)
Trukshanina came off the bench and poured in a season-high 20 points to help lead UTEP past Texas Southern, 72-49, on Sunday. The junior nailed six 3-pointers (6-of-7) and accounted for almost half of the scoring on the day by the Miners' reserves (43 points). Five of her points and one of her two steals on the day came during the 24-4 run early in the opening period which gave the Miners control of the game. In the second half, she connected on four 3-pointers. This is Trukshanina's first Player of the Week honor.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
TALEYA MAYBERRY, TULSA
5-6, Fr., G (Tulsa, Okla.)
Mayberry averaged 15.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists last week. She scored a game-high 22 points against cross-town rival Oral Roberts in a tough 74-69 overtime loss. She played a game-high 42 of the 45 minutes of the overtime battle. Mayberry also assisted with helping hold the Golden Eagles, the nation's leading offensive team, to just 74 points. ORU entered the contest averaging 93.8 PPG. Against Missouri State, Mayberry posted eight points, three rebounds and four assists. On the year, she contributes 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.12 assists per game. This is her first Freshman of the Week award.
2009-10 CONFERENCE USA WEEKLY AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
N16 Pauline Love, Southern Miss
N23 Courtney Taylor, Houston
N30 Brittany Carter, Memphis
D7 Jackie Stanley, Rice
D14 Sviatlana Trukshanina, UTEP
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
N16 Jala Harris, UAB
N23 Nicole Dickson, Memphis
N30 Danielle Johnson, Southern Miss
D7 Jessica Goswitz, Rice
D14 Taleya Mayberry, Tulsa
BALDWIN-TENER BECOMES ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
Saturday East Carolina head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener became the program's all-time winningest coach when the Pirates defeated Hampton, 65-61, on the road. Baldwin-Tener now sports 111 career victories at ECU.
The Pirates have won 17 of their last 22 non-conference games and 20 of their last 25 at Minges Coliseum.
East Carolina is 8-1 for only the fourth time in program history and the first since the NCAA officially recognized women's basketball in 1982.
LOVE DOES GLASS CLEANING
Southern Miss senior F Pauline Love ranks third in the NCAA with seven double-doubles (out of nine games).
Love's 24 rebounds against William Carey stands as the second-best in C-USA single-game history, behind Latasha Byears of DePaul league record 28 boards (11-29-05).
Love moved into fifth all-time on the program's rebound list with 800 rebounds. She needs 200 more to become one of only four USM players to have over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
Love is one of two league players averaging a double-double with 16.7 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. Houston's Courtney Taylor is the other with 13.9 PPG and 10.1 RPG.
CARTER SETS C-USA SINGLE GAME SCORING RECORD
Memphis sophomore G Brittany Carter established a new Conference USA and Memphis (men's or women's) single game scoring record when she scored 49-point against Sacramento State on Nov. 27. The 49 points also set a Husky Classic scoring record, a women's basketball single game scoring record for the Washington arena and tied the all-time arena record.
CANNON & HUGHES RECEIVES PRESEASON HONORS
Prior to the tip-off of the 2009-10 women's basketball season, Conference USA's Jareica Hughes of UTEP and UCF's Emma Cannon have received preseason honors by Full Court Press. The duo were named to the Mid-Major Preseason All-America second and third teams, respectively.
Hughes also appears on the 2009-10 Naismith Preseason Watch list for the second consecutive season.
C-USA TEAM QUICK HITS
Houston sports the 48th toughest schedule in the nation according to the most recent Collegiate Basketball News Co. The Cougars have already hosted Oregon, played at nationally-ranked LSU, at Miami, and will face Kansas and TCU before the conference schedule starts in January.
Houston junior F Courtney Taylor collected her 29th career double-double against UTSA on Dec. 7 , finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor now ranks in a tie for second place on the UH career double-double list.
After playing six of their first eight games away from Houston, the Cougars will enjoy three of their next four contests at Hofheinz Pavilion (Dec. 20 vs. Princeton, Dec. 22 vs. Kansas and Dec. 31 vs. TCU). Houston has held a strong home court advantage during the last two seasons, having won 14 of its last 16 games.
Southern Miss junior G Tanesha Washington scored more than half of Southern Miss' 53 points against Charlotte with a career-high 27. She also pulled down eight rebounds and had a career-high seven steals and scored all but one of the team's field goals in the second half. The Lady Eagles have yet to win a road game this season.
UTEP freshman F Kristine Vitola came off the bench to score eight points and grab five boards in a 72-49 win over Texas Southern Sunday. The victory extended UTEP's home-winning streak to five games. East Carolina (6-0), Houston (2-0) and UTEP (5-0) are perfect when playing at home this season.
