January honored by Pac-10

Arizona State’s Briann January, who played at Lewis and Clark High, was selected Pac-10 women’s basketball defensive player of the year and was also named to the conference’s first team.

Washington State freshman guards Jazmine Perkins and April Cook were also honored by the conference. Perkins was named to the All-Freshman Team, and was All-Pac-10 honorable mention and All-Defensive Team honorable mention. She is the first Cougar named to the All-Freshman Team since Alke Dietel in 1997-98.

Cook was an All-Pac-10 honorable mention and All-Freshman Team honorable mention.

January concluded the regular season ranked first in the Pac-10 in assists per game (4.7), 3-point field-goal percentage (.469) and assist-to-turnover ratio. January is second in 3-point field-goal percentage and 12th in assist-to-turnover ratio in the nation.

January’s defense played a big role in helping the Sun Devils set the Pac-10 record for the fewest points allowed in a game (23) and the school record for the fewest points allowed in a half (eight). In addition, six Pac-10 teams have scored their fewest points of the season against Arizona State this season.

Stanford’s Jayne Appel was named player of the year. It’s the fifth time in the past six years a Cardinal player has won the award.

Joining Appel and January on the conference’s first team are California’s Ashley Walker and Alexis Gray-Lawson and Arizona’s Ify Ibekwe.

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer won coach of the year for the 10th time after leading the second-ranked Cardinal to the conference title.

USC’s Briana Gilbreath won freshman of the year.