Triple double earns Ricketts another honor

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman guard Ceira Ricketts was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after registering the first known triple double in University of Arkansas women’s basketball history.

The honor is the second of the season for the Louisville, Ky., freshman. Ricketts was selected SEC Freshman of the Week for the week of Nov. 24.

“We are all very proud of Ceira’s progress,” UA head coach Tom Collen said. “It’s always special when you can earn the recognition of the league office.”

Ricketts’ effort of 14 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists is believed to be the first triple-double by a women’s basketball player in the 34-year history of the program.

Playing a season-high 38 minutes, Ricketts recorded her season/career bests for rebounds and assists in the Razorbacks’ 70-61 defeat by league-leading and sixth-ranked Auburn this past Sunday.

Ricketts’ 12 assists gives her a share of a pair of Arkansas records. She ties Arkansas’ all-time career assist leader Amy Wright for the most assists recorded by a freshman. Wright had her 12 assists against LSU in 1999.

Ricketts and Wright are joined by former four-year starter Rochelle Vaughn for the most assists in a SEC regular season game. Vaughn got her 12 assists against Georgia in 2004.

She also becomes the first Razorback to earn the league’s freshman of the week award twice. The honor started in 2005-06 with her teammate senior post Whitney Jones as the first-ever SEC Freshman of the Week. Donica Cosby is the only other Razorback women’s basketball player to earn the freshman award. Kimberly Wilson was “Rookie of the Week” during the 1994 season, but the honor was discontinued the next year.

Ricketts joins Shameka Christon and Lauren Ervin as the only Razorback women’s players to receive two weekly honors in the same season.

The Razorbacks host defending national champion Tennessee Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena. Tickets are on sale through the Razorback Ticket Office at 1-800-982-HOGS, on-line at ArkansasRazorbacks.com or at the doors of Walton Arena.