Feb. 27, 2006

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - For the second time this season and third in her career, Notre Dame senior All-America guard and co-captain Megan Duffy (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) has been selected as the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Duffy, who also has earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll three times this season, is the seventh player in school history to be a three-time BIG EAST Player of the Week in her career (all seven have gone on to receive All-America recognition), and first since Jacqueline Batteast took the honor five times from 2003-05.

Last week, Duffy averaged 19.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game with a .550 field goal percentage (11-of-20) and a .545 three-point percentage (6-of-11) as Notre Dame picked up BIG EAST road victories at West Virginia (70-58) and Cincinnati (75-66, OT). Against West Virginia, Duffy scored 17 of her game-high 22 points in the second half, connecting on 5-of-7 shots (4-of-6 three-pointers) in the final 20 minutes alone. Three days later at Cincinnati, Duffy shared game-high scoring honors with 17 points, including 10 in overtime (highlighted by 8-of-8 free throws) as the Irish downed the Bearcats.

For the season, Duffy ranks among the top 10 in the BIG EAST in free throw percentage (1st - .894; 11th in NCAA as of Feb. 21), scoring (8th - 15.7 ppg.), assists (8th - 4.19 apg.), steals (7th - 2.00 spg.) and assist/turnover ratio (10th - 1.73). She also has scored in double figures in each of the past 11 games, the longest string by a Notre Dame player in four seasons.

Duffy is one of two Irish women's basketball players to be named BIG EAST Player of the Week this year, following the selection of sophomore center Melissa D'Amico (Manorville, N.Y./William Floyd) on Dec. 19. In addition, freshman guard Lindsay Schrader (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) garnered the first BIG EAST Freshman of the Week citation of the season back on Nov. 21.

Duffy and senior co-captain Courtney LaVere (Ventura, Calif./Buena) will play the final home game of their Notre Dame careers Tuesday at 7 p.m. (ET) when the Irish (16-10, 7-8 BIG EAST) play host to Pittsburgh (18-8, 9-6) at the Joyce Center. Tickets remain available for the contest through the Notre Dame Athletics Ticket Office (574-631-7356), on game night at the Joyce Center Gate 10 ticket windows and via the official Notre Dame athletics web site (www.und.com). Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the Irish will hold a special pre-game ceremony 20 minutes prior to tipoff honoring their seniors -- Duffy, LaVere, managers Meghan Callahan and Luke Hoover, and video assistant Janelle Tretter.

-- ND --