BIG EAST Player of the Week
Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame, So., G (South Bend, Ind.)
Diggins averaged 17.0 ppg, 6.0 apg, 5.5 rpg and 2.5 steals per game in a 2-0 week for the Fighting Irish. She shot 52.4 percent from the field and 60 percent from 3-point range as Notre Dame defeated Seton Hall and Rutgers. Against the Pirates, Diggins shot 4-of-4 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line for 14 points, adding seven assists, a game-high six rebounds and a season-high five steals in just 25 minutes. Against the Scarlet Knights, she had 20 points, going 3-of-5 from behind the arc, adding five assists and five rebounds. She had a hand in 13 points in a 16-4 run for the Fighting Irish, with eight points and two assists, over a span of 4:31. Diggins has recorded at least 5 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in three of her last four games.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Stefanie Dolson, Connecticut, Fr., C (Port Jervis, N.Y.)
Dolson averaged 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, shooting 72.2 percent from the floor in a 2-0 week for the Huskies, which included road victories over No. 17/19 West Virginia and Providence. Dolson had 10 points, connecting on 5-of-8 from the floor, nine rebounds and blocked a career-high five shots against WVU. She followed that with 21 points and six rebounds against the Friars. Dolson sank 8-of-10 from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Her .650 field goal percentage leads the BIG EAST.
HONOR ROLL
Anna Martin, DePaul, So., G (Nicholasville, Ky.)
Averaged 15.5 ppg in a 2-0 week for the Blue Demons. Had 11 points and seven assists at Syracuse, followed by 20 points and three steals against No. 21/22 Marquette.
Shoni Schimmel, Louisville, Fr., G (Mission, Ore.)
Led the Cardinals to an upset of No. 17/19 West Virginia with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Extended her UofL freshman-record double-figure scoring streak to 21 games.
Chelsea Cole, Pittsburgh, Sr., F (Lumberton, N.J.)
Averaged 12 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks in a 1-1 week for Pitt. Had 12 points, four blocks and a season-high 17 rebounds against USF, followed by 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks at Rutgers.
Nadirah McKenith, St. John’s, So., G (Newark, N.J.)
Had 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a win over No. 16/17 Georgetown. Added two steals and two blocks. In overtime, hit four three throws in the final 25 seconds, finishing 6-of-8 from the line in overtime. Also had the block on a 3-pointer that would have tied the game.
Carmen Tyson-Thomas, Syracuse, So., G (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Averaged 12.0 ppg and 11.5 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week for Syracuse. Had 16 points and 13 rebounds against DePaul. Added eight points and 10 rebounds against Villanova.
INSIDE THE BIG EAST NOTES
RANKED MATCH-UPS – Louisville defeated No. 17/19 West Virginia 57-47 on Feb. 13 for the Cardinals’ fourth win over a ranked opponent this season. St. John’s upset No. 16/17 Georgetown in overtime at home 75-71 for its first win against a Top-25 team in five chances this season. On Saturday, No. 10/14 DePaul held off No. 21/22 Marquette 64-56.
FEBRUARY FRENZY – Like most of the country, a lot of BIG EAST teams have been wearing pink uniforms and attire to raise breast cancer awareness as part of the WBCA’s Think Pink initiative. According to the WBCA, the Pink Zone has raised nearly $3.3 million, reached almost 2.7 million fans and has unified over 4,700 participants in only four years.
SWEET HOME COOKIN’ – Two BIG EAST teams remain undefeated at home this year- UConn and DePaul. The Huskies are 13-0 this year, while DePaul is 14-0. Both teams are at home this week.
THE MOORE THE MERRIER – UConn senior Maya Moore has totaled 2,769 career points and is 11 shy of moving past Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry on the NCAA all-time scoring list to become the highest scoring player from the BIG EAST. In 60 career conference games, Moore has tallied 1,195 points and ranks eighth in league play. She is already UConn’s all-time leading scorer.
BIG EAST VERSUS THE REST – The final nonconference match-up of the season will take place tonight when No. 2/2 Connecticut hosts No. 14/12 Oklahoma at the XL Center as part of ESPN’s Big Monday at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The BIG EAST is 14-15 against the Top-25 this season, with the Huskies holding a 5-1 record. The league holds a 159-54 record against nonconference opponents (.746), marking the sixth-straight season that the league has posted a winning percentage better than .700.
