Dec. 12, 2006

Freshman Aleeya Grigsby (Nacogdoches, TX/Nacogdoches H.S.) earned Independent Newcomer of the Week honors for the second time this season and is the third University of Texas-Pan American women's basketball player to receive the award, which was announced on Tuesday (Dec. 12).

In what has been a tough stretch of games for the Lady Broncs, Grigsby has played consistent throughout. During the past week, she averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two UTPA losses. Against No. 22-ranked Texas, she scored 11 points on 5-of-16 shooting while pulling down six rebounds on the road. Grigsby barely missed a double-double against Texas State when she put up 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds while adding two steals in 34 minutes on the court.

On the season, Grigsby is averaging 10.0 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game and is the only Lady Bronc to make the start in all 11 games this season, while averaging 27 minutes per contest.

Robyn Fairbanks of Utah Valley State earned Independent Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. Fairbanks averaged 28.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, connecting on 62 percent from the field, in two games as UVSC improved its win streak to seven games.

The Independent Player and Newcomer of the Week awards are voted on by Sports Information Directors at NCAA Division I Independent institutions.

Lady Broncs Rank Among Independent Best
As the floor general for the Lady Broncs, LeKeisha Gray (Muskogee, OK/Butler County C.C.) has been a steady force through the first 10 games of the season. The Lady Bronc's leading scorer ranks 12th among all Division I Independent players in scoring, averaging 11.1 points per game. Gray is also proving to be a nuisance for opposing offenses as she is tied for seventh in steals per game, picking her opponents pocket an average of 2.2 times per game.

Senior MaHogany Daniel (Corpus Christi, TX/Mary Carroll H.S.) ranks among the top players in two categories--blocked shots and rebounding. As a shot-blocker, Daniels ranks third, averaging 1.30 blocks per game through the first 10 contests. She ranks sixth on the boards, grabbing an average of 7.0 rebounds per game.

Former Independent Player of the Week Tamara Vaughn (Houston, TX/Blinn College) ranks among tops in field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage. From the field Vaughn ranks 10th, shooting 42.4 percent on 36-of-85, while ranking sixth from behind the arc with 40 percent (10-25).

Players must play in 50 percent of game thru December, 10 2006 to be taken into consideration for Division I Independent rankings.

UTPA Sports Information