Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska) and Chelsea Poppens (Iowa State) were named the season's final Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Players of the Week by a media voting panel for games from March 1-7. Griffin (player) earned her 11th career award and sixth of the season. She is the first player in Big 12 history to garner four consecutive player of the week honors. Poppens (freshman) is the third Cyclone freshman to be recognized this season.
Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska, F, 6-2, Sr, Eagle River, Alaska
Kelsey Griffin led Nebraska to the first perfect regular season in Big 12 history with averages of 27.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in wins over Kansas and Kansas State. She erupted for a career-high 36 points, including 20 in the second half to lead NU back from a seven-point halftime deficit to an 82-72 victory over the Wildcats. The 6-2 forward connected on a career-high 15 field goals in 19 attempts (78.9 percent) while hitting 6-of-8 free throws. Her 36 points tied for the ninth-highest total in school history and marked her fourth 30-point performance of the season. She added seven rebounds, three steals, an assist, a block and drew her team-leading 23rd charge of the year. Against KU, Griffin totaled an 18-point, nine-rebound night in just 22 minutes. She hit 7-of-11 shots from the field and all four of her free throws, while adding a pair of steals.
Phillips 66 Big 12 Freshman of the Week Chelsea Poppens, Iowa State, F, 6-2, Fr, Aplington, Iowa
Chelsea Poppens averaged 10.5 points and 13 rebounds in the Cyclones' games against Oklahoma State and Colorado. She went 9-for-11 from the charity stripe and nine of her 26 rebounds came off the offensive glass. In the game against OSU, Poppens recorded 11 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. The Aplington, Iowa, native was one rebound shy of a double-double in just 27 minutes versus Colorado. She tallied 10 points, nine rebounds and picked off a career-high three steals.
