ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Baylor forward Brittney Griner as its Women's National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Dec. 18. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 21 this season.

Griner

As the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, Griner was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by a representative of the USBWA board of directors from a list of Division I conference players of the week.

Griner, a 6-8 junior from Houston, Texas, scored 25 points, blocked nine shots and grabbed nine rebounds and also set the Big 12 career for blocked shots as the top-ranked Bears rallied over No. 2 Connecticut Sunday 66-61 before a sellout crowd of more than 10,000 in Waco, Texas. Griner leads the Bears in scoring with a 23.0 points per game average and in rebounds with 10.5, while also leading in blocked shots this season with 58.

This is the first season that the USBWA has selected a women's national player of the week. The weekly national player of the week is added to the award's watch list, which will be released at mid-season.

Since the 1987-88 season, the USBWA has named a National Player of the Year. At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership of the USBWA. The winner of the 2012 National Player of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards breakfast in Denver, site of the 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. With some 900 members worldwide, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season. For more information on the USBWA and its award programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-444-4300.

2011-12 USBWA Women's National Players of the Week
• Week of Dec. 11: A'dia Mathies, Kentucky (Southeastern Conference)
• Week of Dec. 18: Brittney Griner, Baylor (Big 12 Conference)
• Week of Dec. 25: Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week of Jan. 1: Sugar Rodgers, Georgetown (Big East Conference)
• Week of Jan. 8: Elena Delle Donne, Delaware (Colonial Athletic Association)
• Week of Jan. 15: Brittany Rayburn, Purdue (Big Ten Conference)
• Week of Jan. 22: Jessica Jenkins, St. Bonaventure (Atlantic 10 Conference)
• Week of Jan. 29: Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut (Big East Conference)
• Week of Feb. 5: Markeshia Grant, South Carolina (Southeastern Conference)
• Week of Feb. 12: Tianna Hawkins, Maryland (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week of Feb. 19: Shey Peddy, Temple (Atlantic 10 Conference)