ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The U.S. Basketball Writers Association has selected South Florida forward Kitja Laksa as the Women's National Freshman of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Jan. 10. The USBWA's weekly honor will be handed out each Tuesday through Feb. 23 this season.

As the outstanding freshman performer from the American Athletic Conference, Laksa 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 top freshmen of the week.

Laksa, a 6-0 forward from Riga, Latvia, averaged 25.3 points over three games, shooting 26-for-50 from the field, including 17-of-27 three-point attempts. Her 38 points in a win over SMU were second best in USF and AAC women’s history.

Since the 2003-04 season, the USBWA has named a Women's National Freshman of the Year. This is the second the season USBWA has honored a national freshman of the week. 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 2016 Women’s National Freshman of the Year will be announced and presented at the USBWA's annual awards event in Indianapolis, site of the 2016 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.

2015-16 Women's National Freshmen of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 13: Kristine Anigwe, California (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 20: Jessica Shepard, Nebraska (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Dec. 27: Allazia Blockton, Marquette (Big East Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 3: Caitlin Jenkins, Southern Miss (Conference USA)
• Week ending Jan. 10: Kitja Laksa, South Florida (American Athletic Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 17: Asia Durr, Louisville (Atlantic Coast Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 24: Jessica Shephard, Nebraska (Big Ten Conference)
• Week ending Jan. 31: Allazia Blockton, Marquette (Big East Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 7: Maite Cazorla, Oregon (Pac-12 Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 14: Aryn McClure, Quinnipiac (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
• Week ending Feb. 21: Adrianna Hahn, Villanova (Big East Conference)