Jan. 21, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina guard Tiffany Mitchell (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day) was named SEC Freshman of the Week, the league office announced today. It is the second time this season she had collected the honor and came thanks to her 9.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, which helped the Gamecocks to a pair of league wins last week.

With the wins, South Carolina improved to 4-2 in SEC play, the best start in head coach Dawn Staley’s tenure. Mitchell’s 11 rebounds against Florida tied her career high and made it the fifth time this season she pulled in double-digit boards. Six of those 11 came on the offensive end, and she hit a pair of key free throws in the final 15 seconds to help seal the victory. Against LSU, Mitchell added 12 points, including six from the free throw line, to go with her three assists and three steals. One of her seven rebounds on the night came on a missed free throw in the final minute to help hold off the Lady Tigers.

For the season, Mitchell averages 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds, which rank her 14th in the SEC. In league play, she ranks 13th in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and 11th in free throw percentage (.727). She has led the team in scoring six times this season, hitting double figures 10 times through the team’s first 19 games, including a 20-point outing in non-conference action.

No. 19/18 South Carolina is back in action on Thu., Jan. 24, when the Gamecocks host No. 5/5 Kentucky at 7 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena. South Carolina will celebrate the SEC’s “We Back Pat” initiative at the game.