Dec. 7, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) - Duke's Jasmine Thomas and Allison Vernerey swept Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Player and Rookie of the Week honors, respectively, for the week ending Dec. 6. Thomas averaged 28 points over the 11-ranked Blue Devils' 2-0 week, which included wins over No. 3 Ohio State and Southern California, while Vernerey posted her first career double-double against USC and a career-high 13 points vs. the Buckeyes.

Thomas averaged 28.5 points, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 rebounds vs. Ohio State and Southern California. Her 29 points and 10 field goals made against Ohio State were both career-highs. The junior guard came back on Sunday and was one point shy of a career-high against Southern California as she totaled 28 points and hit a career-high 10-of-10 free throws. For the week, the Fairfax, Va., native hit 40.0 percent of her three-point field goals and went 17-of-18 from the free throw line.

The two victories at home brought Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium win streak to 19 games, which is tied for seventh nationally. In two games this season against ranked opponents, Thomas has scored 29 points and 26 points (Texas A&M, Ohio State).

Vernerey averaged a double-double in two games versus very good opponents this past week. The Blue Devils defeated third-ranked Ohio State and Southern California, which came in with two-straight wins over ranked opponents. The freshman from Alsace, France, was solid against Ohio State with a career-high 13 points, career-high two blocks, two steals and eight rebounds. She came back against Southern California and led a comeback as she totaled her first career double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds to go along with one block and one assist. The center's 12 rebounds was also a career-high. She hit 10-of-17 field goals on the week for a 58.8 percentage. Vernerey has now totaled double-digit scoring in four-straight games for the Blue Devils.

In other action last week, the ACC won its third-straight Big Ten/ACC Women's Basketball Challenge, posting a 7-4 2009 Challenge record. The league has posted a 22-11 mark, including a 12-5 home record, in the three-year Challenge series, which matches 11 teams from each conference in head-to-head competition.

ACC women's basketball action continues on Tuesday, Dec. 8, as fourth-ranked North Carolina and Virginia host Radford and Furman, respectively. Both contests are slated for 7 p.m.