Dec. 13, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Valerie Nainima from the Gamecock women’s basketball team has been named AgSouth Athlete of the Week.

Nainima returned to practice on Wednesday, Dec. 8, just 4-1/2 months after ACL surgery and was cleared Saturday afternoon to play in Sunday’s game against NC State.

She sank the first shot she took, a 3-pointer from the top of the key, less than a minute after entering the game. Nainima helped the team to a season-high field goal percentage (.518), hitting 3-of-4 field goals herself, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range. She played 12 minutes, adding eight points, three assists and two steals to the victory.