University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Craig Lassig
USBWA Names Pitts National Player of the Week
12/17/2019 8:59:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS – One day after being named the Big Ten Player of the Week for the first time in her career, Minnesota junior Destiny Pitts added to her accolades Tuesday as the U.S. Basketball Writers Association named her its Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Week.
Pitts averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game as the Gophers went 2-0 last week to extend their win streak to nine games.
In an 83-50 win at George Washington Tuesday, Pitts made six 3-pointers to finish with 20 points, her 20th career game with at least that many. She also tied a career high with seven assists.
The team's win streak grew to nine Sunday in a 76-67 win over UC Davis. Pitts had her team-leading fourth game this year with at least 20 points as she finished with 22 and a season-high nine rebounds. She was a perfect 9-of-9 at the free throw line, the most makes without a miss by a Gopher this year. Pitts made three 3-pointers to push her career total to 201 and into fifth on the team's all-time list.
On the season, Pitts leads the Gophers (and is fourth in the Big Ten) in scoring at 15.6 points per game, and is second on the team at 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. She leads the league and ranks 14th nationally by shooting 90.9 percent at the free throw line and is second in the conference in 3-point attempts (67), 3-pointers made (30), 3-pointers made per game (3.0) and 3-point percentage (44.8).
As the Big Ten Player of the Week, Pitts was chosen for the honor by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women's basketball, primarily from a pair of lists of Division I conference players of the week.
Pitts is the second Gopher in history to be named the National Player of the Week since the USBWA started handing out the honor during the 2011-12 season. The other to do it was Rachel Banham on Feb. 9, 2016.
Tuesday's announcement, however, is not the first time Pitts has been recognized by the USBWA as she was named the National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13, 2018.
Pitts averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game as the Gophers went 2-0 last week to extend their win streak to nine games.
In an 83-50 win at George Washington Tuesday, Pitts made six 3-pointers to finish with 20 points, her 20th career game with at least that many. She also tied a career high with seven assists.
The team's win streak grew to nine Sunday in a 76-67 win over UC Davis. Pitts had her team-leading fourth game this year with at least 20 points as she finished with 22 and a season-high nine rebounds. She was a perfect 9-of-9 at the free throw line, the most makes without a miss by a Gopher this year. Pitts made three 3-pointers to push her career total to 201 and into fifth on the team's all-time list.
On the season, Pitts leads the Gophers (and is fourth in the Big Ten) in scoring at 15.6 points per game, and is second on the team at 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. She leads the league and ranks 14th nationally by shooting 90.9 percent at the free throw line and is second in the conference in 3-point attempts (67), 3-pointers made (30), 3-pointers made per game (3.0) and 3-point percentage (44.8).
As the Big Ten Player of the Week, Pitts was chosen for the honor by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women's basketball, primarily from a pair of lists of Division I conference players of the week.
Pitts is the second Gopher in history to be named the National Player of the Week since the USBWA started handing out the honor during the 2011-12 season. The other to do it was Rachel Banham on Feb. 9, 2016.
Tuesday's announcement, however, is not the first time Pitts has been recognized by the USBWA as she was named the National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13, 2018.
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