Jan. 23, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame fifth-year senior forward/tri-captain Devereaux Peters (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick) has been selected as the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week, it was announced Monday by the conference office. It’s the first time in Peters’ career she has been chosen for any weekly BIG EAST individual award, although she was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll three times last season.
In addition, this marks the 74th time a Fighting Irish women’s basketball player has earned a BIG EAST weekly award (43 Players of the Week, 31 Freshmen of the Week), the second-most selections in conference history despite the fact Notre Dame joined the BIG EAST in 1995-96, a full 14 seasons after the league began sponsoring women’s basketball (1982-83). Junior guard Skylar Diggins (South Bend, Ind./Washington) twice has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week this season (Nov. 21 and Jan. 9), while senior guard/tri-captain Natalie Novosel (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) copped the honor on Dec. 19. What’s more, rookie forward Markisha Wright (Des Moines, Iowa/Des Moines East) was chosen as the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on Jan. 2.
A preseason all-BIG EAST selection, as well as a candidate for the State Farm Wade Trophy, John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy (each of which go to the nation’s top women’s college basketball player), Peters averaged 19.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game with a .640 field goal percentage (16-of-25) last week, as Notre Dame ran its current winning streak to 16 games and remained unbeaten in BIG EAST play with victories at home over Pittsburgh (120-44) and Villanova (76-43).
Against Pittsburgh, Peters scored a season-high 20 points (on 9-of-13 shooting) in just 18 minutes. She then came back four days later against Villanova with 19 points and six rebounds, scoring 17 of her points in the first half when she singlehandedly outscored the entire Wildcats’ team, 17-16.
Peters ranks fourth on the Fighting Irish in scoring this season (11.6 ppg.), while also placing among the top 10 in the conference in field goal percentage (sixth – .575) and rebounding (10th – 7.3 rpg.) and adding three double-doubles. During BIG EAST action, she ranks among the top 20 in the conference in scoring (19th – 13.1 ppg.), field goal percenage (fifth – .610), rebounding (tied-10th – 7.1 rpg.) and blocked shots (tied-11th – 1.0 bpg.).
Ranked No. 2 in the latest Associated Press poll, Notre Dame (19-1, 7-0 BIG EAST) steps out of conference play at 7 p.m. (ET) Monday when it plays host to No. 7/9 Tennessee live on ESPN2’s “Big Monday” from Purcell Pavilion. Although the game is expected to be a sellout, fans should check to see if any tickets are freed up at the last minute by contacting the Murnane Family Athletics Ticket Office (574-631-7356; UND.com/tickets) or visiting the ticket windows at Gate 9 of Purcell Pavilion on game night.
For more information on the Notre Dame women’s basketball program, sign up to follow the Fighting Irish women’s basketball Twitter pages (@ndwbbsid or @notredamewbb) or register for the Irish ALERT text-messaging system through the “Fan Center” pulldown menu on the front page at UND.com.
— ND —