The Southeastern Conference league office announced Monday that LSU junior guard DaShawn Harden claimed the first SEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honor for the 2013-14 season.
Harden is the first LSU player to earn the honor since LaSondra Barrett on Jan. 23, 2011.
The Johnson County Community College transfer shined in her debut as a Lady Tiger on Friday night, shooting 8-for-14 from the floor in a 20-point outing, the highest total by an LSU player in their debut since then-freshman Seimone Augustus scored 27 at Arizona in 2002.
Harden added another 19 points to her weekend total along with five rebounds and five steals in LSU’s 80-64 victory against St. Joseph’s two days later.
“Her ability to score the basketball is unbelievable because she’s so versatile,” said LSU coach Nikki Caldwell. “She made some key baskets, especially when they were making runs at us.”
Harden’s performance helped the Lady Tigers advance to the semifinals of the preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament, where they will take on No. 5 Louisville on Thursday.