BIG TEN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

FahKara Malone, Purdue Jr., PG, 5-3, Evansville, Ind./Memorial Malone led Purdue to a pair of home wins last week, guiding the Boilermakers as they defeated Portland and Oakland by margins of 20 points or higher. The 5-foot-3 guard began the week on Thursday with a team-high 17 points against the Pilots, shooting .600 from the floor, including a .667 mark from beyond the arc. Malone also contributed six rebounds, a game-high four assists and a career-high nine steals in the game. The steals total ties the third-highest mark in school history and is the highest total ever by a Purdue junior. Against the Golden Grizzlies on Sunday, Malone recorded 10 points on .571 shooting, including a perfect 2 for 2 mark from three-point range. Malone also added eight assists, six rebounds and another four steals. For the weekend, the Evansville, Ind., native averaged 13.5 points on .588 shooting, six rebounds, six assists and 6.5 steals per game. The award is the second of Malone's career.   Last PUR POW: FahKara Malone, Feb. 11, 2008   Jantel Lavender, Ohio State So., C, 6-4, Cleveland, Ohio/Central Catholic Lavender recorded a pair of double-doubles and two 20-point games as Ohio State defeated Syracuse and dropped a close overtime decision to No. 20 Auburn on the road last week. The sophomore has recorded a double-double with at least 20 points in each of her four games this season. Against Syracuse on Wednesday, Lavender scored 22 points on .818 shooting, also grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out two assists, swatting three blocks and recording one steal. At Auburn on Sunday, the 6-4 center netted another 20 points while grabbing 12 boards and tallying a career-high seven assists. With her latest efforts, Lavender has scored in double-digits in each of her 35 career games while tallying 17 career double-doubles. The weekly award is her second this season and the sixth of her career, tying her for sixth on the Big Ten's all-time chart.   Last OSU POW: Jantel Lavender, Nov. 18, 2008 2008-09 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Nov. 18:            Jantel Lavender, So., OSU Nov. 25             Jantel Lavender, So., OSU FahKara Malone, Jr., PUR