Feb. 25, 2008

CINCINNATI - Musketeer center Ta'Shia Phillips has been honored as the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for her efforts in leading the Xavier University women's basketball team to a 2-0 week, as announced by the league on Monday.  

Phillips earns the award for the 11^th time and is now one accolade shy of tying teammate Amber Harris' record of 12 set during the 2006-07 season.  

The Indianapolis native averaged 16.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in leading the Musketeers to victories at Fordham and at La Salle.  The two wins allowed Xavier to stay tied atop the Atlantic 10 standings with George Washington and Temple at 10-2.

Phillips, the A-10 leader in field goal percentage, was 16-for-27 (.593) from the floor and committed only one foul on the week.  Phillips scored 19 points and snared 10 rebounds in only 19 minutes of action during XU's 65-42 win at Fordham on Wednesday. 

She followed that effort up with a 14-point, 13-rebound performance in Xavier's 57-53 win at La Salle on Saturday.  Phillips has now posted 16 double-doubles on the season, the most by any freshman in the country.

Phillips, who is now two rebounds shy of breaking Xavier's single-season rebounding record, and the Musketeers are back in action on Wednesday, February 27 when the team welcomes Dayton to Cintas Center.  Game time is set or 7 p.m. and the first 1,000 fans will receive a free Blue Blob Bobblebody.  Fans who bring a non-perishable food item will get in free.