Junior Paige Parrish of the women’s basketball team is the 21st Taco Bell Athlete of the Week for the 2011-12 academic year for her performances against Sul Ross State and Howard Payne, which helped the Tornados clinch a spot in the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 2005 and end the weekend alone in first place in the ASC West Division.
Parrish started the week by recording nine points, three boards, one assist and one steal in just 13 minutes of action in a 93-66 win over Sul Ross State. Two days later, she recorded her first collegiate double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds in a 60-56 triumph over Howard Payne despite logging in just 23 minutes. A transfer from Texas-Tyler, Parrish had not recorded more than four rebounds in a game this season before dominating the glass against the Yellow Jackets. The Tornados are now in the driver's seat to win the ASC West Division for the first time ever.
“Paige has really come alive these past two weeks and has been our best perimeter playmaker,” said head coach Rusty Rainbolt, whose squad continued its best start in school history with a 15-3 ledger overall and a 13-2 mark in ASC action.
Parrish, a kinesiology major from McKinney, Texas, is the daughter of Jennifer Klassen and Gary Parrish. She has one sister, Crystal.
