Starting Five

Adut Bulgak, Center, 6-foot-4, Junior, Florida State

Bulgak averaged 16.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in wins against Clemson (82-52) and Duke (74-58) last week. Against Duke, Bulgak, who is Florida State’s leader in rebounding defense -- ranks first in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- became just the eighth Seminole to record at least 18 points and 18 rebounds in a game, a career-high. She teamed with sophomore center Kai James to hold one of the nation’s top centers, Elizabeth Williams, to just three points and three rebounds in 25 minutes. Williams, an All-American candidate, fouled out of the game with 1:16 left in the second half. A native of Edmonton, Canada, Bulgak posted her ACC-leading ninth double-double of the season as well as a career high in rebounds. Bulgak had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double in the win against Clemson. Florida State (15-2, 2-1) returns to play Thursday with a home game against Pittsburgh.
 
 

Tiaria Griffin, Guard, 5-foot-7, Junior, Georgia

Griffin scored 16 points in back-to-back wins against Missouri (69-48) and Auburn (57-52) while connecting on 50.0 percent of her 3-pointers and 87.5 percent of her free throws. With Georgia trailing 47-46 with 3:44 left at Auburn, Griffin hit consecutive 3-pointers in a span of 55 seconds to turn a one-point deficit into a five-point lead -- one the Bulldogs maintained to the final buzzer. Now 15-2 and 3-1 on the season, Georgia has been paced in scoring by Griffin eight times this season, including in each of the past five games. The Bulldogs play at Ole Miss on Thurday.
 
 

Marley Hill, Forward, 6-foot-2, Sophomore, Cincinnati

 

Hill averaged a double-double last week, 22.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, as Cincinnati scored much-needed wins against Houston (76-73 in double overtime) and UCF (70-54). She shot a combined 58-percent (18-for-31) from the field in both games. The sophomore Hill had a career-high 28 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in the double overtime win at Houston on Jan. 7. Hill scored the final basket for the Bearcats in the 76-73 win against the Cougars and had several key defensive stops in the final overtime frame. She added 16 points and eight rebounds in the win against UCF on Saturday. Cincinnati, 5-11, 2-3 American Athletic Conference) will next play at Memphis on Wednesday.

 

Zahna Medley, Guard, 5-foot-6, Junior, TCU

Named this week's Big 12 Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 19.0 points to help lead TCU to victories against Iowa State and Oklahoma State, Medley and the TCU Horned Frogs continue to play well, improving to 10-4 on the season, 2-1 in Big 12 play. Medley posted a team-best 21 points, four assists and three steals against Iowa State, playing a pivotal role in one of the greatest comebacks in school history as the Horned Frogs overcame a 24-point second-half deficit. Trailing by 20 points with 12 minutes remaining against the Cyclones, Medley got the ball rolling with a pair of free throws, a steal and an assist. Following a layup, Medley drained her first 3-pointer of the contest to bring the contest back to single digits (eight points) for the first time since the 13:52 mark of the opening half. Medley would strike again from downtown to close the gap to just four points with under seven minutes remaining. Medley converted a career-best 11 free throws on 13 attempts, including nine in the second half. She followed up with 17 points to help TCU topple Oklahoma State on Saturday, going 5-of-8 from the field, including a 2-for-3 mark from distance, and a perfect 5-of-5 performance from the charity stripe. Medley, who also averaged 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in the two contests, shot 50 percent from the field (9-for-18), including a 4-of-9 mark from 3-point range, and was 16-of-18 (.889) from the free-throw line. The Springfield, Illinois, native currently leads the Big 12 in free-throw percentage (.900) while ranking second in 3-pointers per game (2.5) and third in scoring (16.3). Next up for TCU is a Thursday game at Kansas.

 
Adrienne Motley, Guard, 5-foot-9, Sophomore, Miami (Fla.) 

In one of the top games of the week, Motley led Miami to a 78-63 upset victory against Notre Dame, snapping a streak of 30 consecutive road victories for the Irish and ended their 21-0 run in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Motley led the way for the Canes with a career-high 32 points in the win that included 13-of-19 shooting from the floor. Her 32-point effort marked the first time that a Miami player had scored 30-plus points since Riquna Williams had 34 in a win against Maryland on Jan. 12, 2012. The Canes showed no letdown three days later, winning at Virginia Tech 62-45. Motley -- a Newport News, Virginia native -- finished with 22 points and a career-high eight rebounds as the Hurricanes won three consecutive to start ACC play. Motley is averaging a team-leading 17.3 points per game and 24.0 points per game in three ACC contests thus far. She ranks in the top 10 in the ACC in scoring (fifth), field goal percentage (6th, .553) and free throw percentage (8th, .842). Miami, (13-3, 3-0) will next host Clemson on Thursday.