Indiana University Athletics
Smith Named IU Athlete of the Week
12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - On a weekly basis, IUHOOSIERS.com will recognize the top performance in Hoosier Athletics by selecting an IU Athlete of the Week. For the week ending Dec. 17, junior guard Nikki Smith was the winner. The honor was the second for Smith and the IU women's basketball team this season.
Smith has scored in double-figures in nine of IU's 12 games, including a career-high 24 points in the Hoosiers' 73-66 win over Southern Illinois on Dec. 16. She sank a 3-pointer with 5:13 left in the game that gave IU the advantage for the remainder of the game, while also scoring the final nine points for the Hoosiers. Smith hit 7-of-11 from the field, including four 3-pointers, and went 6-of-6 at the free throw line.
The 5-9 guard is currently averaging a team-high 13.5 points per game, and is shooting 43.4 percent (49-of-113) from the field and a 44.4 percent (28-of-63) from the 3-point line. Smith is also shooting a team-best 85.7 (36-of-42) from the charity stripe.
The Hoosiers close the non-conference portion of the schedule when they host Kansas on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. (EST) in Assembly Hall.
Smith was one of many Hoosier athletes that turned in strong performances on the week, including A.J. Ratliff (men's basketball) and Angel Escobedo (wrestling).
A.J. Ratliff
G - Jr. - Indianapolis, Ind. - North Central
Junior A.J. Ratliff scored a team-high 14 points off the bench as the Hoosiers defeated Southern Illinois, 57-47, on Dec. 17. Ratliff netted 4-of-7 from the field, including three 3-pointers, and added three assists and three steals in the win. He is currently averaging 9.2 points per game.
Angel Escobedo
R-Fr. - Griffith, Ind. - 125 pounds
Escobedo continued his solid campaign by pinning all three of his opponents at the F.I.T.E. Duals on Sunday, Dec. 17. Escobedo needed a total of just 11:56 to pick up 18 dual points for IU as the Hoosiers moved to 8-0-0 on the year. Escobedo is now 17-2 on the season with a team-leading eight pins.
