Dec. 20, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Rookie Lady Vol guard Meighan Simmons captured the Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week award for the second time this season, the conference office announced on Monday.

Simmons tallied back-to-back 20-point games over a pair of top-five opponents this past week, as sixth-ranked Tennessee split against No. 2/3 Baylor and No. 3/2 Stanford.

The 5-9 guard from Cibolo, Texas, scored 22 points and grabbed five boards on Tuesday in a 65-54 loss to the Lady Bears in Waco, Texas.

When the Lady Vols returned home, Simmons poured in 23 points against the Cardinal, as UT captured an 82-72 overtime victory in front of 14,197 at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. on Sunday.

Simmons sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer that knotted the contest at 70-70 with 48 seconds left in regulation. In the extra period, Simmons scored four points and forced two Stanford turnovers.

For the week, she averaged 22.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg.

On the season, she ranks second in the SEC is scoring at 17.8 ppg and is ripping down 3.4 rpg. She has five 20-point games for the 10-2 Lady Vols.

Simmons has started her career by reaching double figures in scoring in 12 straight contests. Only Chamique Holdsclaw began her Lady Vol career with more consecutive double-figure outputs, reaching 14 straight in 1995-96.

In addition, Simmons captured the Lady Vol Athlete of the Week award for the third time of 2010-11.

The Lady Vols return to action on Wednesday when they host ETSU at 7 p.m. in Thompson-Boling Arena. The game will be broadcast on SportSouth.