Lappe, Nelson Earn Weekly Honor
Boulder - Senior women's basketball player Linda Lappe and freshman men's cross country runner Billy Nelson both earn athlete of the week honors after their performances for week ending February 16.
For the third time of her career, Lappe has captured athlete of the week honors, this time for an outstanding performance against Oklahoma on Sunday at the Coors Events Center. Lappe helped to lead the Buffs to a 61-57 win over the Sooners, their only opponent of the week. The performance gave Lappe her Big 12 season high 16 points and gave CU its first win over Oklahoma since 1999, Lappe's freshman year.
Lappe shot 3 of 5 from the field and was a stellar 10 of 10 from the free throw line, a team best this season. However, it was her clutch play towards the end of the game that propelled the team to the victory as she scored eight of the teams last 10 points in the final minutes of the game. In the last minute she hit six key free throws to clinch the win for CU.
Freshman cross country runner Billy Nelson ran his way into athlete of the week with a win in the junior men's 8k at the USATF National Cross Country Championships at Bayou Park in Houston on Sunday.
Finishing 19-seconds ahead of teammate Brett Schoolmeester, Nelson earned a spot on the USA team that will compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships March 29-30 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The 2002 Big 12 Cross Country Newcomer of the Year, Nelson finished the 8k in 27:08, earning a national championship victory ahead of teammate Brett Schoolmeester, who also earned a spot on the US National Team. The two will be joining other CU athletes senior Edwardo Torres and Molly Austin
Others nominated for this week's award were Stephane Pelle (basketball) and Bucky Mind (men's tennis).
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Stephane Pelle, Senior, Yaounde, Cameroon
Stephane Pelle broke CU's all-time career rebounding record of 971 held by Cliff Meely (1968-71) this week as he grabbed 12 against Texas A&M at the Coors Event Center on Saturday. Pelle averaged 19.5 points along with 12.5 rebounds this week as the Buffs fell at Kansas State on Tuesday and before defeating Texas A&M on Saturday. This week's performance extends his double-double streak to four consecutive games.
MEN'S TENNIS: Bucky Mink, Junior, Carrollton, Texas
Bucky Mink had one of the best performances of the 2002-03 season for the men's tennis team this weekend. Mink shined Saturday in Tampa as he defeated 53rd ranked Paco Antelo (6-3, 4-6, 6-4) of nationally ranked South Florida, giving CU its lone point for the day. Mink continued his performance on Sunday in Orlando as he and doubles partner Marko Bundalo gave the Buffs a point by winning at No. 2 doubles, defeating Central Florida's No. 2 doubles team.