(Posted January 17, 2006)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College senior women's basketball player Katie O'Brien (South Western/Hanover) has been selected as the Commonwealth Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week. O'Brien is the first Juniata women's basketball player to earn the honor this season, and it marks the first time she has been selected for a weekly honor by the conference office.

O'Brien helped Juniata to its first conference win of the season with one of the strongest all-around games of her career. She recorded her second double-double of the season with 19 points, while adding 11 assists as the Eagles topped Elizabethtown College. She also produced three blocks, three steals and an assist in the game while missing just two shots from the field. She closed the week by pouring in 22 points and grabbing four rebounds in a conference game against Widener University. She converted 11-of-21 shots from the field in the game, while recording four steals, two assists and a block. For the week, O'Brien averaged 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and shot 58.6 percent from the field while contributing seven steals, four blocks and three assists.

The two strong outings last week continued O'Brien's strong play in her senior season. After moving into the starting lineup as a junior, she is putting together her best season in her final year. She currently ranks second on the team in scoring with an average of 12.4 points per game, and is the top rebounder on the team with her average of 6.7 rebounds. She is shooting 53 percent from the field on the season which leads the team and she also leads the team with 27 blocks. O'Brien ranks in the top-10 in the Commonwealth Conference in field-goal percentage, rebounding and blocks and has moved into fifth place in school history in career blocked shots. She has enjoyed nine double-digit scoring performances this season and has scored 20 or more points on four occasions.

With O'Brien playing a big role, the Eagles are in the midst of one of their better seasons in recent history. Juniata is 8-7 through 15 games after winning just five games each of the past two seasons. The team is also tied for fourth in the Commonwealth Conference standings. Juniata returns to action Tuesday night with a game against conference foe Messiah College.

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