The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
McGee-Stafford named Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year
03.07.2013 | Women's Basketball
IRVING, Texas -- Freshman center Imani McGee-Stafford headlines a trio of Texas Women's Basketball players named to 2012-13 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 teams, the league office announced Thursday. McGee-Stafford claimed Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year honors, as well as a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive and All-Freshman Teams. Junior guard Chassidy Fussell, sophomore forward Nneka Enemkpali and McGee-Stafford also collected All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades.
The official All-Big 12 awards are selected by the league's head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.
McGee-Stafford becomes Texas' third Big 12 Freshman of the Year, joining Heather Schreiber (2002) and Tiffany Jackson (2004).
McGee-Stafford has emerged as an offensive and defensive threat in her rookie season. She is fourth on the Texas squad and 21st in the Big 12 in scoring with 11 points and averages 9.3 rebounds - good for second at UT and fifth in the league. Her 73 blocks are third in the Conference and the most ever by a Texas freshman. McGee-Stafford leads the Big 12 freshmen in rebounding and blocks, and is second in scoring.
Fussell, a 2012 All-Big 12 First Team honoree and Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, was Texas' leading scorer in Big 12 Conference regular-season games with 12.8 ppg. She reached double-figure scoring in 11 league games, including three 20+ performances.
A first-time All-Big 12 selection, Enemkpali recorded six double-doubles in conference games. Her 8.2 rpg rank sixth individually among league players, and she is 17th in scoring with 11.6 ppg.
Texas begins its postseason run against Kansas State on Friday, March 8, in the first round of the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship in Dallas. The Longhorns tip at 6 p.m. Central at the American Airlines Center.
2012-13 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Awards
Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, Baylor
Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor**
Co-Newcomers of the Year: Portia Durrett, Oklahoma and Jackie Patterson, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year: Imani McGee-Stafford, Texas
Defensive Player of the Year: Brittney Griner, Baylor**
Sixth Man Award: Destiny Williams, Baylor
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Brittany Chambers, K-State
** Denotes Unanimous
All-Big 12 First Team (all honors listed alphabetical by school)
Player (School)
Brittney Griner~!^** (Baylor)
Odyssey Sims~!** (Baylor)
Hallie Christofferson** (Iowa State)
Chelsea Poppens~ (Iowa State)
Angel Goodrich+ (Kansas)
Brittany Chambers~! (K-State)
Aaryn Ellenberg~** (Oklahoma)
Toni Young** (Oklahoma State)
Chynna Brown (Texas Tech)
Christal Caldwell (West Virginia)
All-Big 12 Second Team
Carolyn Davis~! (Kansas)
Joanna McFarland (Oklahoma)
Tiffany Bias+ (Oklahoma State)
Casey Morris (Texas Tech)
Monique Smalls (Texas Tech)
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Jordan Madden (Baylor), Kimetria Hayden (Baylor), Brooklyn Pope (Baylor), Nikki Moody (Iowa State), Nneka Enemkpali (Texas), Chassidy Fussell (Texas), Imani McGee-Stafford (Texas), Nicole Griffin (Oklahoma), Morgan Hook (Oklahoma), Liz Donohoe (Oklahoma State), Zahna Medley (TCU), Ayana Dunning (West Virginia)
Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Player (School)
Brittney Griner** (Baylor)
Odyssey Sims** (Baylor)
Imani McGee-Stafford (Texas)
Monique Smalls (Texas Tech)
Jess Harlee (West Virginia)
Big 12 All-Freshman Team
Player (School)
Alexis Prince (Baylor)
Brittney Martin** (Oklahoma State)
Imani McGee-Stafford** (Texas)
Zahna Medley** (TCU)
Bria Holmes (West Virginia)
--
** Unanimous First Team Selection
~ 2011-12 All-Big 12 First Team Selection
+ 2011-12 All Big 12 Second Team Selection
! 2010-11 All-Big 12 First Team Selection
% 2010-11 All-Big 12 Second Team Selection
^ 2009-10 All-Big 12 First Team Selection
