March 8, 2010

DALLAS, Texas - Baylor's Brittney Griner earned five Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference women's basketball awards the league office announced today. The rookie post was named the league's Freshman of the Year, Co-Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Big 12 first team, All-Defensive team and All-Freshman team.

Connie Yori (Nebraska) earned her first Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year honor while Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska) became the first Cornhusker to garner Big 12 Player of the Year. Danielle Adams (Texas A&M) was voted Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Nebraska's Yvonne Turner shared Defensive Player of the Year with Griner while Bianca Smith (Colorado) earned the Sixth Man Award. The honors were voted by the league's head coaches who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Griner is the first Baylor player to receive Freshman of the Year honors and the second selected for Defensive Player of the Year with Abiola Wabara in 2006. She is the eighth Lady Bear to earn first-team All-Big 12 recognition and sixth to be named to the All-Defensive team.

Griner, a 6-8 post, set the Big 12 single-season blocks record in her rookie campaign and is already 12th on the league's career chart with 173. Her 6.0 blocks average is second in the NCAA. She is third in the Conference in both scoring and rebounding with 19.0 ppg and 8.7 rpg. The Houston, Texas, native has recorded three triple-doubles to tie for the most in a season in Big 12 history and is two shy of tying the league career mark. It is also tied for the most in the NCAA this season.

Senior post Morghan Medlock and junior point guard Kelli Griffin each received All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.

Brittney Griner Awards
Big 12 Freshman of the Year
Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year
All-Big 12 first team
All-Big 12 Defensive team
All-Big 12 Freshman team
Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year
Naismith Trophy Midseason list
Wooden Award Midseason list
Big 12 Player of the Week - Feb. 1-7
Big 12 Freshman of the Week - Nov. 23-29, Dec. 7-13, Dec. 14-21, Dec. 29-Jan. 3, Jan. 11-17, Feb. 1-7, Feb. 22-28
World Vision Classic All-Star team
MVP Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic

Kelli Griffin Awards
All-Big 12 honorable mention
Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic All-Tournament team

Morghan Medlock Awards
All-Big 12 honorable mention
World Vision Classic All-Star team