Dec. 4, 2006

IRVING, Texas - A day after leading Missouri to its 20th State Farm Tiger Classic title, Tiger center EeTisha Riddle was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Player of the Week, in a vote by media representatives from around the league.

In earning her first-ever Big 12 weekly award, Riddle averaged 20 points 5.5 rebounds and nabbed a tournament-best seven steals in leading Missouri (7-1) to wins over Creighton and Alabama A&M.

In the tourney's opening game she set career-highs with 20 points and six steals as the Tigers defeated the Bluejays, 70-66, to improve to 29-0 all-time in Tiger Classic first round contests.

In Sunday's championship game (played just 18 hours after the previous night's game with Creighton), she shot 82 percent (9-of-11) from the floor and made her final seven baskets. All nine made field goals were lay-ups as she tied her career-high of 20 points in just 24 minutes. For the tournament, she shot 63 percent (17-of-27). Her six steals on Saturday were a career-high and tied Mizzou's season-high.

A senior from O'Fallon, Ill., she became the first Tiger to post consecutive 20-point games since Christelle N'Garsanet did so last season against Iowa State and Kansas in early February. This also marks the first player of the week honor for a Tiger since LaToya Bond earned the second of her two awards on Feb. 6 of last season.

This marks the seventh player of the week honor for a Tiger since the league was formed.

MU will return to action on Wednesday night when it plays host to Ohio (4-0 entering Monday's game at Western Illinois) at 6:30 p.m. Central time at Mizzou Arena.