Jan. 11, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the second time this season, 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. In addition, senior guard/tri-captain Melissa Lechlitner (Mishawaka, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph’s) was tapped for the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after both players helped the No. 3 Fighting Irish pick up a pair of wins last week and keep Notre Dame as one of only five unbeaten teams in the country.
Diggins also earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors back on Nov. 23 and was chosen for a place on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 30. Meanwhile, Lechlitner cops the first BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll citation of her career, and her first recognition from the conference since making its All-Freshman Team at the end of the 2006-07 season. Lechlitner also is the fourth different Fighting Irish player to make the conference’s Weekly Honor Roll this season, joining Diggins, and senior guards/tri-captains Ashley Barlow (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) and Lindsay Schrader (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett).
Last week, Diggins started both games and averaged 16.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game with a .524 field goal percentage (11-of-21) and a .900 free throw percentage (9-of-10), as Notre Dame won at in-state rival Purdue, 79-75, before opening BIG EAST play with an 81-46 home victory over Villanova. Diggins tallied 15 points and a team-high four assists, canning a clutch insurance three-pointer with under six minutes left and hitting an equally-critical free throw with 12 seconds to go. This past Saturday against Villanova, Diggins opened her BIG EAST career in strong fashion, scoring a game-high 18 points on a near-perfect shooting day (7-9 FG, 1-1 3FG, 3-3 FT), while adding two steals.
Lechlitner was a key factor in both Notre Dame wins last week, averaging 16.5 points per game with a .500 field goal percentage (13-of-26) and a .625 three-point percentage (5-of-8). She began the week by scoring a career-high 22 points (on career bests of 8-16 FG and 4-7 3FG) in a season-high 38 minutes at Purdue, giving Notre Dame the lead for good on her fourth three-pointer of the night with 6:23 to play. Lechlitner then contributed 11 points and a game-high three assists in the BIG EAST opener against Villanova.
The Fighting Irish (14-0, 1-0 BIG EAST) return to the hardwood Tuesday for a 7 p.m. (ET) conference matchup with South Florida at Purcell Pavilion. Tickets for this game are still available by contacting the Notre Dame athletics ticket office (574-631-7356; second floor of Joyce Center via Gate 1; www.UND.com/tickets) or by visiting the ticket windows on the east side of Notre Dame Stadium on game night. In addition, Tuesday’s game will be webcast live and free of charge on the official Notre Dame athletics web site, www.UND.com.
— ND —