ST. LOUIS (USBWA) The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Kentucky guard Jennifer O·Neill as its first Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Week of the season for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 8. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 25 this season.
As the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, O'Neill was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.
ONeill, a 5-6 junior from Bronx, N.Y., in then No. 5 Wildcats' only game of the week, scored a school-record 43 points in the Kentucky landmark 133-130 win in four overtimes Friday night over then-No. 9 Baylor at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, that became the highest scoring game in Division I women·s basketball history. She came off the bench to score 33 points in the second half, and is now leading the team with a 14.7 average. She also set school records with 19 free throw attempts and 31 field goal attempts.
Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the 2012 Women's NCAA Final Four in Denver, the organization announced going forward that the national and weekly player award has been named for Hall of Famer and former UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2014 Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards presentation in Nashville, site of the 2014 NCAA Women's Final Four.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821.
2013-14 Ann Meyers Drysdale National Players of the Week
Week of Dec. 8: Jennifer O'Neill, Kentucky (Southeastern Conference)
· Week of Dec. 15: Jeanise Randolph, Cincinnati (American Athletic Conference)
· Week of Dec. 22: Breanna Stewart, Connecticut (American Athletic Conference)
· Week of Dec. 29: Blake Dietrick, Princeton (Ivy League)
· Week of Jan. 5: Brianna Kiesel, Pittsburgh (Atlantic Coast Conference)
· Week of Jan. 12: Jasmine Lister, Vanderbilt (Southeastern Conference)
· Week of Jan. 19: Bria Hartley, Connecticut (American Athletic Conference)
· Week of Jan. 26: Jillian Alleyne, Oregon (Pac-12 Conference)
· Week of Feb. 2: Kayla McBride, Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference)
· Week of Feb. 9: Odyssey Sims, Baylor (Big 12 Conference)
· Week of Feb. 16: Diamond DeShields, North Carolina (Atlantic Coast Conference)
· Week of Feb. 23: Tyonna Outland, Bakersfield (Western Athletic Conference)