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Jan. 9, 2009

ATLANTA -- Oklahoma's Courtney Paris was named the National Player of the Month of December by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), which made the announcement Thursday.

It is the fifth career WBCA Player of the Month for Paris.

Paris averaged 17.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks in five games in December, while playing just 25.2 minutes a game. She shot 77.3 percent from the field, connecting on 33-of-44 field goal attempts. Her rebounds and field goal percentage led the Big 12 in December.

She extended her NCAA record for consecutive double-double's to 104 in December and it now stands at 105 after one January game. She had 18 points and 13 rebounds at then-No. 9/7 California as the Sooner's came back from a 26-point deficit to win the game, setting an NCAA record for largest comeback in a regulation game.

Paris is a three-time State Farm Coaches' All-American and last season was voted Big 12 Player of the Year for a second consecutive season and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for a third season by league's coaches. She led the nation in rebounds (466) and rebounds per game (15.3) and ranked fourth in blocks per game (3.5), 16th in field goal percentage (.571) and 26th in points per game (18.6). Paris was the only player in Division I to rank in the top 50 individuals in more than three of the eight major statistical categories measured by the NCAA.

Players earning WBCA Division I National Player of the Month Honorable Mention for December include: Corin Adams, Morgan State (Mid-Eastern Athletic), Jessica Bobbitt, Belmont (Atlantic Sun), Whitney Boddie, Auburn (SEC), Heather Bowman, Gonzaga (West Coast), Jernisha Cann, IUPUI (The Summit League), Carlee Cassidy, UMBC (America East), Tina Charles, Connecticut (BIG EAST), Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee (Sun Belt), Kristi Cirone, Illinois State (Missouri Valley), Cassie Consedine, Navy (Patriot League), Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech (Western Athletic), Traci Edwards, Milwaukee (Horizon League), Megan Frazee, Liberty (Big South), Monica Gibbs, UTSA (Southland), Ashley Hayes, Murray State (Ohio Valley), Anna Kowalska, Kent State (Mid-American), Paris Johnson, San Diego State (Mountain West), Jantel Lavender, Ohio State (Big Ten), Judy Lomax, Columbia (Ivy League), Gabriela Marginean, Drexel (Colonial Athletic Association), Ashley Palmer, Long Island (Northeast), Ta'Shia Phillips, Xavier (Atlantic-10), Amber Simmons, Pacific (Big West), Courtney Taylor, Houston (Conference USA), Alex Thompson, Davidson (Southern), Ashley Walker, California (Pac-10), Marie Warner, Canisius (Metro Atlantic) and Monica Wright, Virginia (ACC).

WBCA National Player of the Month is based on achievements during the respective month for nomination. All nominations must come from the conference office and the player's head coach must be a member of the WBCA.