Jan. 5, 2006

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University women's basketball standout Jennifer Sands was named the Louisiana Player of the Week, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced Thursday.

Sands, a sophomore forward from Dallas, Texas, earned the honor after averaging 19.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.7 assists per game while helping the Green Wave win two of their three games last week. It was the first weekly honor of her career, and Sands becomes the first Tulane player to earn such an honor since Lakethia Hampton was named Conference USA Player of the Week last Jan. 3.

For the week, Sands posted a .667 field goal percentage on 22-of-33 shooting with a 3-pointer, and connected at a .750 clip from the free throw line with 12 makes in 16 attempts.

She had a career-best 25 points in Tulane's 77-67 overtime win over Toledo on Dec. 29, and followed that up with her first career double-double in the Green Wave's 88-72 victory against Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 2 when she scored 20 points and pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds.

In last week's Tulane Invitational, Sands earned all-tournament honors after averaging 18.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in the two-day event. In the Toledo game, she scored 15 of her 25 points in the final eight-plus minutes of regulation and five-minute overtime period. In that time, she connected on 6-of-9 field goals, including a trey, and sank two of three free throw opportunities.

Sands and the Green Wave return to action on Friday, Jan. 6, when they take on Conference USA foe SMU at 7 p.m. at Fogelman Arena. For ticket information, contact the Tulane Ticket Office at 504-247-1240. The Ticket Office is currently located in the lobby of Fogelman Arena, and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also purchase on-line at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.