March 4, 2008

IRVING, Texas-- Rhea Taylor (Missouri) and Megan Gibson (Texas A&M) have been named the Big 12 Player and Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced. Gibson is receiving her fifth career weekly award and second this season, while this is the first honor for Taylor.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Rhea Taylor, Missouri, CF, Fr., Buford, Ga./Peachtree Ridge
Taylor helped the Tigers to seven wins last as she went 14-for-25 from the plate (.560), scored 11 of MU's 49 runs and averaged a .640 slugging percentage and .577 on-base percentage. The Tigers leadoff batter finished the week 12-of-12 on stolen bases and is now 23-of-24 on the season. She has recorded nearly half of Missouri's conference-leading 57 stolen bases on the year. Taylor is the first freshman to win the honor this season and the first Tiger since 2006.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Megan Gibson, Texas A&M, P/1B, Sr., Spring, Texas/Spring
Gibson improved to a perfect 12-0 on the mound this week in wins over No. 14 Houston, No. 19 DePaul, Florida State and NC State. The senior logged 30 strikeouts in 27 innings over the week, dropping her overall ERA from 1.12 to 0.73. She also increased her innings without an earned run to 31.1. At the plate, she hit .300 with four RBI and added a home run to make her the Big 12 career leader (48). Gibson's two doubles put her in a tie for the Big 12 lead. She also is first in the conference in walks (18) and shutouts (7).

2008 BIG 12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 12 -- Amber Flores, Oklahoma, So., OF
Feb. 19 -- Jordan Daniels, Baylor, Sr., 1B/DP
Feb. 25 -- Tallie Thrasher, Texas, So., DP
March 4 --Rhea Taylor, Missouri, Fr., CF

2008 BIG 12 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 12 -- D.J. Mathis, Oklahoma, Jr. , LHP
Feb. 19 -- Megan Gibson, Texas A&M, Sr., 1B/P
Feb. 25 -- D.J. Mathis, Oklahoma, Jr., LHP
March 4 --Megan Gibson, Texas A&M, Sr., 1B/P