ST. LOUIS (USBWA) The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Purdue guard Brittany Rayburn as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 15. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.
As the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, Rayburn 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.
Rayburn, a 6-0 senior from Attica, Ind., tied an NCAA record with 12 three-pointers in a 72-55 win at Minnesota followed by a 57-55 win over Iowa at home with 14 points and a game-saving block at the finish.
She is the Boilermakers' leading scorer with a 15.1 average and is shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range, helping Purdue (15-3, 5-0 Big Ten) to the top spot in the Big Ten standings.
This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.
Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. 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 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 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 314-444-4300.
2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky (Southeastern
Conference)
· Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor (Big 12
Conference)
· Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford (Pac-12
Conference)
· Week of Jan. 1: Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown (Big East
Conference)
· Week of Jan. 8: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (Colonial
Athletic Association)
· Week of Jan. 15: Brittany Rayburn, Purdue (Big Ten
Conference)
· Week of Jan. 22: Jessica Jenkins, St. Bonaventure
(Atlantic 10 Conference)
· Week of Jan. 29: Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut (Big
East Conference)
· Week of Feb. 5: Markeshia Grant, South Carolina
(Southeastern Conference)
· Week of Feb. 12: Tianna Hawkins, Maryland (Atlantic
Coast Conference)
· Week of Feb. 19: Shey Peddy, Temple (Atlantic 10
Conference)