University of North Carolina Athletics
Hansbrough Named Progress Energy Performer Of The Week
February 11, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2008
Tyler Hansbrough averaged 33.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in the two games against Duke and Clemson last week and is the Progress Energy Tar Heel of the Week for February 4-10, 2008. He was a combined 23 for 37 (.622) from the floor and 21 of 28 (.750) from the free throw line. He had 28 points and 18 rebounds, game highs for both teams in both categories, in the loss to Duke, then had a season-high 39 points as well as 13 rebounds in the double-overtime, comeback win over Clemson. The 39 points are the most by an ACC player this year, the second time in the last five games he has scored 35 or more points, and the second-most in Smith Center history by any player. He made 17 of 19 free throws, setting a personal best for free throws made in a game and tying his single-game high for attempts. He broke the career UNC record for free throw attempts in the game.
The Poplar Bluff, Mo., junior scored seven of the Tar Heels' 13 points in the second overtime period, outscoring the Tigers, 7-3, in that second OT. He also had three steals, the key one coming in the second overtime with UNC holding a three-point lead. The steal led to a pair of free throws and a 7-0 Tar Heel run to end the game.
Other nominees:
BRIE FELNAGLE
Women's Track, Distance
Junior, Tacoma, Wash.
Brie Felnagle opened up her 2008 campaign on Saturday with a dominant performance in the 3,000 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York City. Felnagle eclipsed the NCAA automatic mark of 9:15.80 with a race of 9:09.57, less than 10 seconds shy of the school record. Felnagle had not raced during the 2008 season after her All-America performance during the cross country season but she opened it with a bang as she dominated the women's 3,000 winning the race, winning by more than 12 seconds and tallying Carolina's first automatic qualifying time of the year. Felnagle's 9:09.57 was less than 10 seconds shy of Shalane Flanagan's Carolina record of 9:00.22.
KEEGAN MUELLER
Wrestling, 165 pounds
Junior, Dallas
The 165-pound Mueller's pin proved to the difference in the Tar Heels' 24-18 victory over NC State Friday at Reynolds Coliseum. He pinned the Wolfpack's Jalil Dozier in 4:13 in the match's second bout to give UNC a 9-0 lead that would eventually grow to 24-0 before State rallied to close the match to the six-point final margin. Mueller has won his last 17 bouts and has recorded seven of his last eight wins by major decision, technical fall or pin. The Dallas native is now 23-3 on the season and 13-0 in duals. He completed his ACC regular season with a 5-0 record in league action.
CHRISTINE NGUYEN
Gymnastics, All-Around
Sophomore, Plano, Texas
Sophomore gymnast Christine Nguyen finished first in the all-around competition for the third meet in a row, scoring 39.375 and placing first on all four events, to help lead No. 21 North Carolina to a 195.450-194.975 victory over rival NC State. Nguyen, a native of Plano, Texas, scored a 9.850 on vault, a 9.825 on bars, a 9.850 on balance beam and a 9.850 on floor exercise. Carolina's score of 195.450 was its highest in two years.
Erlana Larkins
Women's Basketball, Forward
Senior, Riviera Beach, Fla.
Erlana Larkins averaged a double-double in three ACC wins for the No. 3 Tar Heels this week. The Riviera Beach, Fla., senior had 13 points and a game-high six assists on Monday as UNC scored its most points ever at Cameron Indoor Stadium in a 93-76 win at Duke. Larkins picked up her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards in a Thursday win over Clemson before finishing with game highs of 18 points and 14 rebounds in the win at Georgia Tech. UNC is now 22-2 overall and a league-best 9-0 in the ACC.
SANAZ MARAND
Women's Tennis
Sophomore, Katy, Texas
Sanaz Marand had singles wins in a pair of upset victories for the UNC women's tennis team at this weekend's ITA National Indoor Championship. In a 4-3 win over No. 2 UCLA on Thursday, Marand defeated No. 41 Tracy Lin, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 2 singles. Marand then topped No. 8 USC's Lindsey Nelson, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 1 singles the following night. Nelson is a two-time NCAA runner-up in singles and finished 2007 ranked No. 3 in the nation. Marand's victories helped No. 14 UNC reach the semifinals of the ITA Indoor Nationals for the first time in school history.
