Ricketts named SEC Freshman of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorback women’s basketball guard Ceira Ricketts was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for Nov. 24, the SEC office in Birmingham, Ala., announced Monday.

A 5-9 guard from Louisville, Ky., Ricketts went from double-digit scoring sub to starter to the team’s leading scorer in the space of last week’s three-game home stand.

“We knew when we signed Ceira we had a special player that had a chance to impact us immediately,” Arkansas women’s basketball coach Tom Collen said. “We just didn’t know if it would happen this fast. We are very proud of her.”

Ricketts averaged 12.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg last week, and was Arkansas’ co-leading scorer in Sunday’s win over Northwestern. She had 10 points in just 18 minutes to start the week against High Point, adding seven rebounds and five steals.

Ricketts picked up a new career high with 18 points in the win over SMU, then broke her rebound best with nine along with 10 points and four steals against Northwestern.

For the week, the freshman guard had 11 steals – a 3.7 average – and she continues to be the co-leader in the SEC for the entire season at 4.0 steals per game.

“This may be the tip of the iceberg if she stays healthy and keeps working hard,” Collen said. “The big test for her will be the same as it is for all freshmen, can she do it night in and night out?”

Ricketts and the 4-0 Razorbacks head on the road for the Junkanoo Jam on Grand Bahama Island this weekend. Arkansas opens with Oregon State at 5:15 p.m. on Friday afternoon, then faces either Pacific or North Carolina on Saturday.

Ricketts is the first Razorback named SEC Freshman of the Week since Donica Cosby earned the honor for almost the same week of the season at the beginning of the 2006-07 year. Ricketts is only the third freshman selection. Her senior teammate Whitney Jones was the first-ever SEC Freshman of the Week in December 2005.