Nov. 26, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Villanova University junior forward Laura Kurz has been named the Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week. Kurz earns the honor for her performance in last weekend's Odwalla San Francisco Thanksgiving Tournament.

Kurz led the Wildcats to the tournament championship by averaging 22.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per contest. In the two games, she went 17-of-25 from the field (68.0%), 4-of-5 from three-point range (80.0%) and 7-of-9 from the foul line (77.7%). For her efforts in the tournament, Kurz was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

In the first round win over South Alabama, Kurz registered her first career double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. In the 73-70 overtime win against San Francisco in the title game, she tallied a career-best 25 points and pulled-down a team-high nine rebounds.

With her team down seven with seven minutes left in the championship game, Kurz scored 12 straight points and 16 of Villanova's last 23 to help the Wildcats make a comeback and send the game into overtime. In the extra period, she registered her team's first four points and ended up scoring six of Villanova's 13 points in overtime. All total, she scored 22 of Villanova's final 36 points.

A native of Lower Gwynedd, Pa., and a graduate of Germantown Academy, Kurz is in her first year as an active player for the Wildcats after sitting out last year following her transfer from Duke University. Kurz is currently averaging 13.2 points per game and a team-best 7.4 rebounds per contest for the 4-1 Wildcats. Kurz and the Wildcats return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 28, when they open the home portion of the schedule versus Fairfield. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.