Dec. 1, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the second time in three weeks, South Carolina sophomore forward A’ja Wilson was named SEC Player of the Week, sharing this week’s honor with Texas A&M’s Courtney Williams, the league announced today. Wilson helped the No. 2 Gamecocks to three wins last week, earning Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown MVP honors as South Carolina picked up the team title.

Wilson was the Gamecocks’ top scorer and rebounder in all three games last week, averaging 20.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks at the tournament. She opened with an 18-point effort against #16/18 Arizona State that included the game-winning free throws with less than a second remaining on the clock. Her 11 rebounds in the contest completed her fourth double-double of the season, one shy of her 2014-15 season total. In the second game, Wilson tied her career high with 26 points against CSU Bakersfield, making a career-best 10 field goals and handing out a career-high four assists, including on three straight fourth-quarter possessions passing out of the double team. In the finale at Hawaii, she added 18 points for her sixth double-figure scoring game in seven outings.

On the season, Wilson is South Carolina’s top scorer and rebounder with her 17.0 points per game ranking seventh in the SEC and her 9.0 rebounding averaging coming in fifth in the conference. Her 119 total points are 35th best in the nation, while her four double-doubles rank seventh in the country. She also ranked 13th in the nation in blocked shots at 3.14 per game.

The No. 2 Gamecocks return to action on Sun., Dec. 6, against No. 14 Duke to open a three-game home stand. Tipoff at Colonial Life Arena is set for 2 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN2.