Dec. 20, 2004

Janel McCarville, Minnesota
6-2, SR, C, Stevens Point, Wis./Stevens Point

McCarville scored a career-high 31 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for her 36th career double-double in the Golden Gophers' 75-67 loss at home to No. 1/1 LSU.  The senior center, who is a national player of the year candidate, added five steals, four assists and three blocks as well.  McCarville was 14-of-26 from the field, which notched season highs for a Big Ten player in both field goals made and field goals attempted.  Her 31-point effort also moved her up to sixth position on the Gophers' all-time scoring list.

This is the first Big Ten Player of the Week honor for McCarville this season and the fourth of her career.  The League's Preseason Player of the Year was the last Gopher to earn the weekly accolade, when she shared the honor with Illinois' Tiffanie Guthrie, on February 9, 2004. 

Crystal Smith, Iowa
5-6, JR, G, Haughton, La./Haughton

Smith poured in a career-high 33 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 from the foul line in leading Iowa to an 80-69 win at Drake. The junior guard also recorded a career best with 12 field goals made, which ranks second among Big Ten players this season, and grabbed six rebounds as well.  Her 33-point effort tied Lindsay Bowen of Michigan State for the highest point total by a Big Ten student-athlete this season.  Smith has scored in double figures in every game but one this season, including registering 20 points or more four times. She has been Iowa's offensive and defensive leader in helping No. 23 Iowa (9-0) to its best start in 11 years.

This is Smith's first career Big Ten Player of the Week honor and she is the first Hawkeye to earn the award since Jamie Cavey on February 2, 2004.