BYU star earns WCC Player of the Month honor

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

San Bruno, Calif. • The West Coast Conference has named BYU senior center Kristen Riley as its January Player of the Month.

The 6-foot-3 Cougar co-captain from San Clemente, Calif., was the leading scorer in six of the nine games played in January and was the leading rebounder in five, tying in one. She helped lead the Cougars to an 8-1 league record, a nine-game winning streak and a No. 22 ranking in the Associated Press poll.

Riley also recorded three double-doubles during the month, which ended with her scoring 133 points, hauling down 75 rebounds, dishing out 24 assists, recording 13 blocks and making 11 steals.

During January, she averaged 14.8, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, while shooting 61.9 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range, and 76 percent from the line. She ranks second in the league in rebounds and field goal percentage.

Riley also earned national honors when she was named College Basketball Mid-Major Conference Player of the Week by netscoutsbasketball.com.

The Cougars host nationally ranked Gonzaga Thursday at 7 p.m.