Jan. 23, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After recording career highs in points and rebounds in a pair of wins over No. 15/14 Georgia and Florida, University of Kentucky women’s basketball freshman guard Bria Goss has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

Goss helped the Wildcats tie a school record by earning their fifth win over a top-25 ranked opponent this season, with a remarkable performance at No. 15/14 Georgia. Goss rallied in the second half against the Lady Bulldogs, scoring 17 of her team- and career-high 22 points in the decisive second stanza. Goss’ play, which included a career-high tying three 3-pointers, helped push the Wildcats over the top en route to earning its first win in Stegeman Coliseum since 2008.

In a home game against Florida just three days later, Goss’ shot wasn’t falling. The Indianapolis native turned to her defense instead, taking a team-high three charges and grabbing a team- and career-high nine rebounds against the Gators.

With the game on the line with 22.8 seconds on the clock, Goss calmly stepped up to the line and buried both of her free-throw attempts to help preserve the Wildcats victory. Kentucky’s 18-2 (7-0 SEC) start ties the best start in program history through 20 games.

For the week, Goss averaged a team-high 14.0 points per game and 6.0 rebounds. The weekly honor is Goss’ third this season, a league-high among freshmen.

Goss’ scoring average of 11.7 points per game leads all freshmen in the SEC and is on pace to be the sixth highest freshman scoring average in program history. Goss’ 15 double-figure scoring games are the ninth most in UK freshman history, and her 25 made 3-pointers are the eighth most ever by a UK freshman.

UK Hoops will look to extend its program-record start to the conference season when it travels to Auburn Thursday to face the Tigers. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.