Spears Big 12 Rookie of the Week

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BOULDER - Colorado freshman forward Brittany Spears has been named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week by a media voting panel for games of Jan. 2-6, the league office announced on Monday.

Spears captured her first career Big 12 weekly honor and it's the second Big 12 recognition of the season for the Buffaloes. Sophomore Bianca Smith was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 10. Spears is CU's first Big 12 Rookie of the Week since current junior center Kara Richards was honored on Nov. 22, 2004, just after her first two career games.

A native of Pasadena, Calif., Spears helped Colorado register its 10th straight win by scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a 65-53 decision over Pepperdine on Jan. 4. She tied a personal-best with seven field goals and made them on just 10 attempts (.700). Spears had an outstanding all-around game by also recording four assists, four steals and one blocked shots.

Colorado is 11-2 overall and off to its best start since 2003-04 and its 10-game run is the team's best since 1994-95. Spears has played a major role in the Buffs' success this season. She leads all Big 12 freshmen in scoring (13.5 ppg) and blocked shots (1.3 bpg), while also ranking in the top three in assists, rebounds and steals.

Colorado opens the 2008 Big 12 season by playing at Missouri on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 5:30 p.m. MST in Columbia, Mo.