February 1, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore center Ruth Riley (Macy, Ind.) was named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 30.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots in Notre Dame’s two wins last week at Syracuse and Providence.
Against the Friars in a 97-59 victory, Riley scored a career-high and Notre Dame school-record 41 points as she connected on 18-of-22 field goals from the field. The 18 field goals also set a new Irish single-game mark. She also recorded her eighth double-double of the season in grabbing 13 rebounds.
Riley’s previous career-best was 36 points which she set against Providence on January 10.
In the 94-61 win at Syracuse, she netted 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Riley shot 77.1 percent from the field in two games.
Notre Dame has won eight straight and is off to its best start in school history with a 17-2 record. Currently, the Irish are sixth (tying an all-time high) in this week’s Associated Press ranking.