ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected Mississippi State's Victoria Vivians as its Women's National Freshman of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Feb. 15. The USBWA's weekly honor has been handed out each Tuesday this season. This is the final freshman of the week selection this season.

Vivians

As the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, Vivians earned consideration as a nominee for the weekly award, which was chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women’s basketball, from a list of Division I conference freshmen of the week.

Vivians, a 6-1 forward-guard from Carthage, Miss., averaged 24.5 points per game. She scored 39 points, tying the national high for a freshman this season and setting a school record, in the double overtiime loss at Kentucky in which she played 49 of the 50 minutes. Her 15.0 scoring average leads all SEC freshmen.

Since the 2003-04 season, the USBWA has named a Women's National Freshman of the Year. At the 2012 Women's Final Four in Denver, the organization announced going forward that the national and weekly player award has been named for Hall of Famer and former UCLA All-American Ann Meyers Drysdale and another famous name in women’s basketball name is being deliberated for the freshman award. At the conclusion of the regular season, the freshman of the year will be voted on by the entire USBWA membership. The winner of the 2015 Women’s National Freshman of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards event in Tampa, site of the 2015 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 314-795-6821.

2014-15 Women's National Freshmen of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 7: A'ja Wilson, South Carolina (Southeastern Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 14: Kaylee Johnson, Stanford (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 21: Azurá Stevens, Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 28: Brianna Turner, Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 4: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 11: Ashunae Durant, Hofstra (Colonial Athletic Association)
• Week ending Jan. 18: Brianna Turner, Notre Dame (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 25: Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 1: Ariel Atkins, Texas (Big 12 Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 8: Azurá Stevens, Duke (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 15: Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State (Southeastern Conference)