University of Houston Athletics
Sancho Lyttle receives double honors this week.
2/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2005
Senior Sancho Lyttle earned her second C-USA player of the week on the same day as she was names to the 2005 Midseason Naismith Trophy Candidates presented by Cingular Wireless.
Lyttle earned her C-USA player of the week title from the pair of league wins over the weekend. Lyttle posted her 19th and 20th double-double of the season (32nd and 33rd of her career. With the victories, UH improved to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in league action, which gives Houston sole possession of fourth place in C-USA.
Lyttle turned in a 12-point, 16-rebound performance in a 74-52 decision over East Carolina on Friday night. Her 16-rebound effort gave her the school record for rebounds in a season with 310.
Lyttle set the single season record with 16:32 remaining in the game. Former Cougar Valerie Muoneke held the old record with 302 rebounds. Against Charlotte, Lyttle gave Houston its largest lead in the game, following a free throw with 2:54 left in the first half.
The lead changed hands a total of 12 times and was tied 11 times before the Cougars sealed the 69-64 win. The 6-foot-4 senior tops the league rebounding charts with 12.5 per game, while ranking second in scoring with 18.8 points per game.
Lyttle also averages 2.92 steals and one blocked shot per game, which places her second and fifth, respectively, amongst C-USA players.
Lyttle also received one of the most prestigious national award honors being named as one of three Conference USA women's basketball players to the 2005 Midseason Naismith Trophy Candidates presented by Cingular Wireless, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today.
TCU's senior forward Sandora Irvin and DePaul's junior forward Khara Smith were also named. All three players were also chosen for 2005 C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team and to the 2005 Naismith Trophy Preseason list.
The Top 30 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country.
The board based its criteria on player performances this season. The list was narrowed down from the preseason list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March.
Lyttle is the Cougars top offensive and defensive threat. Lyttle tops the league charts for rebounding (12.5), which will also catapult her into first in the country in this week's NCAA statistics, and ranks second in the league in scoring (18.8). Lyttle posted 16 boards against East Carolina on Friday to give her 310 on the season, a mark that set the all-time UH single season record. The Cougar standout now has 324 rebounds for the season.
