Lawson Named BIG EAST Player Of The Week

NCAA D1 Major Conferences Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

University of South Florida women’s basketball standout Jessica Lawson has been named the BIG EAST Conference women’s basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 13.

Lawson, a 6-3 center from Orlando, scored a career-high 26 points in helping USF to a 76-64 win over Jacksonville in its lone game of the week on Dec. 13. Lawson was 12-19 from the field and 2-4 from the line in 33 minutes of action while also recording two blocked shots. In addition, the sixth-year senior grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds – two off equaling her career-high – for her fifth double-double of the season, and her first since 15-point, 15-rebound outing against Montana on Nov. 27. It was also her 15th double-double as a Bull and the 16th of her collegiate career dating back to her time at California.

On the year, Lawson is averaging 16.6 points per game, sixth in the BIG EAST, and a league best 12.8 rebounds per outing. Lawson is also shooting 51.3 percent (58-113) from the field on the year.

Lawson’s is the sixth USF player to be named BIG EAST Player of the Week since joining the conference prior to the 2005-06 season, and the first since Shantia Grace was named for the week ending Nov. 20, 2006. Jessica Dickson has had the honor bestowed upon her the most out of all USF players with four.

USF will get back on the hardwood on Thursday, Dec. 17 when it faces Tulane at 7 p.m. in the Sun Dome. That game will mark the first of three that the Bulls will play in a four-day stretch at home. They will host the USF Shootout on Dec. 19-20 taking on North Carolina Central in the first round at 4 p.m.. Houston Baptist will take on East Carolina in the opening game of the day at 2 p.m.. The losers will play in the consolation game at noon on Dec. 20 with the winner’s facing off for the Shootout title at 2 p.m.