Jan. 25, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the third time this season and the second time in three weeks, Notre Dame freshman guard Skylar Diggins (South Bend, Ind./Washington) has been selected as the BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Week, it was announced Monday by the conference office. Diggins becomes just the fourth Fighting Irish rookie ever to earn three BIG EAST Freshman of the Week citations in a single season, joining Ruth Riley (three in 1997-98), Alicia Ratay (six in 1999-2000) and fellow Washington High School alum Jacqueline Batteast (six in 2001-02).
In addition, fifth-year senior guard/tri-captain Lindsay Schrader (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) notched her own triple, making her third appearance on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this season after both she and Diggins helped the No. 3/5 Fighting Irish to a pair of comeback victories in BIG EAST play last week, including their fifth win over a ranked opponent this year.
Diggins also earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors back on Nov. 23 and Jan. 11, and was chosen for a place on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 30. Meanwhile, Schrader nabs the sixth BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll citation of her career, the most by any Notre Dame player since the Honor Roll was created in 2005-06. Schrader is one of four different Fighting Irish players to make the conference’s Weekly Honor Roll this season, joining Diggins, and senior guards/tri-captains Ashley Barlow (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) — a two-time honoree on Nov. 23 and Dec 21 — and Melissa Lechlitner (Mishawaka, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph’s), who was tapped for a place on the Jan. 11 Honor Roll.
Last week, Diggins averaged 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game with a .538 field goal percentage (14-of-26) and a .500 three-point percentage (3-of-6), as Notre Dame erased a 12-point first-half deficit to win at Louisville, 78-60, before wiping out a 13-point second-half deficit for a 74-66 home win over No. 16/11 West Virginia. Diggins scored 15 of her team-high 20 points at Louisville in the second half, making 8-of-13 shots in the win. On Sunday against WVU, Diggins got the Fighting Irish going with eight quick points in the first half, then converted seven crucial points in a 2:06 span late in the second half, finishing with 15 points (6-13 FG) and a team-high four steals.
Schrader played an equally pivotal role in Notre Dame’s success last week, averaging a double-double with 14.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, as well as a .786 field goal percentage (11-of-14). She opened with 12 points (5-6 FG) and a game-high 10 rebounds at Louisville, before dropping in 13 of her team-high 16 points against West Virginia in the second half, and adding a game-high 12 rebounds. Schrader now has logged double-doubles in three of her last four games, giving her five on the season and 16 in her career.
The Fighting Irish (17-1, 4-1 BIG EAST) will be back in action Wednesday with a 7 p.m. (ET) conference matchup against Providence at Purcell Pavilion. Tickets for this game are still available by contacting the Notre Dame athletics ticket office (574-631-7356; UND.com/tickets; first floor of new Rosenthal Atrium on south side of arena) or by visiting the ticket windows on the east side of Notre Dame Stadium on game night. In addition, Wednesday’s game will be webcast live and free of charge on the official Notre Dame athletics web site, www.UND.com.
— ND —