Dec. 2, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s basketball senior forward DeNesha Stallworth was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, it was announced on Monday.
Stallworth, who collects her first SEC Player of the Week honor this season and second of her career, led the seventh-ranked Wildcats to home wins over Bradley (117-77) and in-state rival No. 4/3 Louisville (69-64) by averaging a team-high 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
The Richmond, Calif., native scored 15 of her 16 points and grabbed six of her game-high tying eight rebounds after halftime vs. Louisville en route to helping the Wildcats claw back from a 14-point deficit. In the second half, Stallworth was able to grab four crucial offensive rebounds to help ignite her strong play in the half. With the game on the line, Stallworth also knocked down 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
Against Bradley, Stallworth again did most of her damage in the second half. She scored 11 of her 13 points and grabbed six of her 10 rebounds after halftime. Stallworth also swatted a season-best three blocks in the game. The double-double was her second of the season and 23rd of her career. Her 13 points came on an efficient 5-of-8 (.625 percent) shooting from the field and 3-of-4 (.750 percent) from the free throw line.
For the season, Stallworth leads the Wildcats in scoring (14.0 ppg) and ranks second the team in rebounding (6.8 rbg) and field goal percentage (.581). She has reached double figures in six of the eight games this season. She currently is on the watch lists for every major national player of the year award, including the Wade Trophy, the Naismith Trophy, the Senior CLASS Award and the John R. Wooden Award.
The Wildcats hit the road for their next matchup with a top-10 opponent when they travel to Dallas to meet No. 9 Baylor in the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. The game is the first in a double-header with the nationally-ranked UK men’s basketball team vs. Baylor.
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