James Named ACC Player of the Week

Jan. 3, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s basketball team’s Tamara James was named the ACC Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 2 as announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference office Monday.

James, a 5-10 native of Dania, Fla., garnered conference honors for the first time this season after averaging 33.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals in three games over the past week while leading UM to a 3-0 record, including a championship title at the UM Holiday Classic.

James turned in the best offensive performance of her career in Miami’s 84-70 win over Fairfield Dec. 28 in the opening game of the UM Holiday Classic, scoring a career-high 39 points. The 39-point performance marked the second highest single-game point-total in school history and was just two points off the school record of 41. She also went 17-of-23 from the field to tie the school record for field goals made in a game and added nine rebounds and five steals in the win.

The following night, James turned in a 26-point performance while playing 40 minutes to lift the Hurricanes past Loyola Marymount, 78-67, in the Championship Game of the UM Holiday Classic on her way to being name the tournament MVP.

James returned to the court Jan. 2 to score 36 points in the Hurricanes’ 93-83 victory over Coppin State. She went 14-of-20 from the field against the Lady Eagles and brought her career point total to 1,433, moving her into eighth place all-time at Miami.

James and the Hurricanes (8-5) return to action Sunday, traveling to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on Florida State in UM’s ACC opener.