ST. LOUIS (USBWA) The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Maryland forward Tianna Hawkins as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Feb. 12. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.
As the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, Hawkins 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.
Hawkins, a 6-3 junior from Clinton, Md., shot over 72 percent from the field in three games and averaged 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. She scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Terrapins' 64-56 win against then-No. 22 Georgia Tech and followed up with 14 points and six rebounds in a 91-71 win over Clemson. In a narrow 76-74 loss to No. 8 Miami, she was 8-for-11 from the field, scoring 18 points to go with 10 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. She leads the nation in field goal percentage at 63.3 percent.
Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. This is the first season the USBWA has presented a Women's National Player of the Week. 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)