Laney Named USBWA National Player of the Week
Jan 13 | Women's Basketball
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Betnijah Laney (Clayton, Del.) as its Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 11.
Laney, a 6-0 senior forward from Clayton, Del., averaged 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals in wins over Michigan and Penn State. In the 81-68 victory over Michigan, which snapped a three-game home losing streak, Laney had her 11th double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. She also tied career-highs with seven assists and five steals. On the road at Penn State in a 71-51 win, Laney recorded 18 points and nine rebounds. On the season, Laney is averaging 16.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.
Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the Women's NCAA Final Four in Denver, 2012, the organization announced going forward that the national and weekly player award has been named for Hall of Famer and former UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2015 Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards event in Tampa, site of the 2015 NCAA Women's Final Four.
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season.
The Rutgers women's basketball team, ranked at No. 24 for the second straight week in the Associated Press Poll and up one position to No. 22 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, will host No. 8 Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 9 p.m. Fans can click here to purchase $9 tickets to the game.
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