Feb. 27, 2006

Junior forward Alicia Saunders of the 17th-ranked West Texas A&M University women's basketball team was named the Lone Star Conference South Division Player of the Week for her efforts last week, as she set a new single-season school and conference record for blocked shots in helping the Lady Buffs win the LSC South title.

Saunders' honor gives WTAMU a sweep of the weekly LSC South Player of the Week Awards, as senior guard Ronnie Holmes from the Buffs' team garnered the men's award, marking the first time this season that a school has swept the Player of the Week Awards for either division.

Saunders is the third Lady Buff to garner the honor, joining senior forward Keisha Monroe (Nov. 22) and freshman guard Emily Brister (Dec. 5 and Feb. 13).

Saunders, a 6-5 junior forward from Kansas City, Mo., has 113 blocks on the season, surpassing former WTAMU All-American Brandi Green's 99 blocks in 1998-99 for the school record, and topping the previous conference record of 112 by Ankse Steponaviciute of Abilene Christian University in 1995-96. Saunders swatted six shots in Saturday's 90-57 rout of Tarleton State University at the First United Bank Center. The win gives the No. 1 seed to WTAMU and the right to host the LSC Tournament March 3-4, as long as the Lady Buffs win their first round game Tuesday, hosting Cameron University.

Saunders also registered her third straight double-double and ninth of the season by tying a game-high with 13 rebounds to go with 10 points, one of four Lady Buffs in double figures. In Wednesday's 73-58 win over Midwestern State University, Saunders posted 12 points and 12 rebounds, to go with nine blocks, as she passed Green in that game.

On the season, Saunders leads the LSC and ranks second in NCAA-II in blocked shots with 4.2 bpg, including 4.6 bpg in South division games. She also tallied 8.0 ppg and a team-high 9.7 rpg on the season, including 10.2 rpg in division action. Saunders leads the conference and ranks 32nd in the country in rebounding. She also leads the league and would rank second in the nation in field goal percentage, hitting 62.2 percent (89-of-143), but doesn't reach the minimum to qualify for the national statistics.

WTAMU is 24-3 on the year, finishing 13-1 in LSC South action, and the Lady Buffs are currently on a season-long nine game winning streak, having won 14 of the last 15 and 17 of the last 19 games.

The First United Bank Center remains a friendly place for WTAMU, as the Lady Buffs end regular season unbeaten at home with a 12-0 mark and are currently on a 16-game home winning streak dating back to last season, and have won 17 of the last 19 home games.

WTAMU will host Cameron University in a first-round LSC Tournament game Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the First United Bank Center, preceding the WTAMU men's first-round LSC Tournament game against Southwestern Oklahoma State University at 8 p.m.

If the Lady Buffs win, they'll host the LSC Tournament semifinals and final Friday and Saturday, March 3-4.

For ticket information, contact the WTAMU Athletics Ticket Office at 806-661-4424.

-WT-