Feb. 8, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the fourth time this season and the third time in the past five 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 third Fighting Irish rookie ever to earn four BIG EAST Freshman of the Week citations in a single season, joining Alicia Ratay (six in 1999-2000) and fellow Washington High School alum Jacqueline Batteast (six in 2001-02) in that elite company.
Diggins also earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors back on Nov. 23, Jan. 11 and Jan. 25, and was chosen for a place on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Nov. 30, one of four Fighting Irish players to collect Honor Roll status at least once this season.
Last week, Diggins averaged 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game with a 7.00 assist/turnover ratio as Notre Dame picked up conference wins at Rutgers and at home vs. Pittsburgh. The Fighting Irish rookie guard led the team in scoring in both games, tallying 14 points and a game-high four steals in last Monday’s win at Rutgers, while also sparking a 9-1 game-clinching second-half run by the Fighting Irish with a driving layup. Then, on Saturday against Pittsburgh, Diggins notched career highs in numerous categories, including points (23), rebounds (10), assists (tied-6), and free throws made/attempted (9-of-11), while carding her first career double-double as Notre Dame went wire-to-wire for the victory.
The third-ranked Fighting Irish (21-1, 8-1 BIG EAST) return to action Tuesday with a 7 p.m. (ET) BIG EAST matchup at Cincinnati. Notre Dame then comes home next Sunday, Feb. 14, for its annual WBCA Pink Zone game (designed to raise money for breast cancer research) against DePaul, with tipoff from Purcell Pavilion slated for 3 p.m. (ET). A very limited number of tickets for this game are still available by contacting the Murnane Family Ticket Office (574-631-7356; first floor of the new Rosenthal Atrium at Gate 9 of the arena; on-line at www.UND.com/tickets) or by visiting the ticket windows on the east side of Notre Dame Stadium on game day.
— ND —