The University of Florida’s Brittany Shine was named the Southeastern Conference’s Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday. Kentucky junior guard Keyla Snowden was the SEC Player of the Week.
Named Most Outstanding Performer of the Gator Holiday Classic, Shine totaled 47 points and 10 assists, while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, including a 42.9 percent (6-14) from the three-point arc as she helped Florida capture its 10th consecutive non-conference home win, as well as the Gator Holiday Classic Tournament title, the team’s second regular-season championship this season.
The 5-foot-10 guard became only third freshman in 20-year history of tournament to be named its MOP.
In the first round game against Alabama State, Shine scored a career-high 28 points and became the first Gator this season to eclipse the 20-point plateau this season, besting her previous career high of 16 points set against Harvard on Dec. 7. Her 28 points were the most scored by a Gator since Sha Brooks poured in 29 points against Tennessee on Feb. 8, 2009. She connected on 4-of-9 three-pointers, tying for the most by a Gator in a single game this season. Shine reached her career high by halftime with 19 points in the opening period.
In the Gator Holiday Classic title game against Robert Morris, Shine scored seven consecutive points during a 12-3 run late in the first half that helped UF begin to distance itself and take an 11-point halftime lead. Shine finished the game with 19 points and tied for a game-high four assists.
Shine started both tournament games in last week’s action, the first starting assignments of her collegiate career and improved her season averages to 8.5 points and 1.9 assists per game.
Florida (10-3) returns to action on Tuesday playing at No. 22 Florida State (9-3) in the Donald L. Tucker Center beginning at 7 p.m.