Jan. 13, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the second time in three weeks, Notre Dame freshman guard Natalie Novosel (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) has been chosen as the BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Week, it was announced Monday by the conference office. Novosel, who also earned the award on Dec. 29, joins forward Kellie Watson (Ionia, Mich./Ionia) (Dec. 1 & 8) as two-time recipients of the honor this season. This marks the first time Notre Dame ever has had at least two players named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week multiple times during the same season.
Novosel averaged 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds with a .667 field goal percentage (10-of-15) in two Irish victories last week, helping Notre Dame extend its winning streak to a season-high-tying seven games. Novosel tied her season (and career) high with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting in last Tuesday’s 86-62 win at DePaul, while her seven rebounds against the Blue Demons were one off her personal best. Last Saturday in an 84-63 home victory over Georgetown, Novosel tallied 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting and added four rebounds.
Junior center Erica Williamson (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) also was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, following perhaps the finest week of her college career. She averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game with an .800 field goal percentage (16-of-20) in the victories against DePaul and Georgetown. At DePaul, she chalked up a (then) career-high 20 points on a career-high-tying 9-of-11 shooting, while grabbing nine rebounds. Four days later, she re-set her career scoring high with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while adding a season-best 10 rebounds to notch her third career double-double and first of the season.
No. 10/4 Notre Dame (14-1, 3-0 BIG EAST) returns to the hardwood Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT (9 p.m. ET) when it travels to Milwaukee, Wis., for a BIG EAST matchup with Marquette at the Al McGuire Center. The game will be broadcast live on television to a national cable audience on CBS College Sports. It also can be heard live on the radio across northern Indiana and southwest Michigan on Pulse FM (96.9/92.1), and worldwide on the Internet at the official Notre Dame athletics web site (www.UND.com), with veteran broadcaster Bob Nagle on the call.
— ND —