C-USA picks 2 Wave players as top freshmen

When Conference USA searched for its top freshman basketball players of the season, the league had to look no further than the Tulane Green Wave. Freshman guards Ricky Tarrant of the Wave men's team and Danielle Blagg of the women's team took both the C-USA honors as top rookie players.

Tarrant was the unanimous choice for the honor and earned a spot on the five-member all-freshman team as well. He is the first Tulane player on the men's team to earn all-freshman accolades since Kevin Sims in 2007.

“I'm really happy for him and proud of him. He is deserving of everything he gets because he works so hard,” Tulane head coach Ed Conroy said.

During conference play, Tarrant averaged 18.2 points, ranking second overall in league games. He posted double figures in 15 of the 16 conference games, including a C-USA wide, season-high 33 points in two games. Overall this season, he led Tulane in scoring, assists and steals, and was second in 3-pointers made.

Blagg is the third woman in Tulane history to claim conference Freshman of the Year honors, joining standouts Barbara Farris (1995) and Grace Daley (1997).

“She does so many things well besides score,” Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said. “She can rebound. She can play defense. We put her in a lot of tough situations and she's come through for the team.”

Blagg, who also made the all-freshman team, leads the Wave in 3-point baskets while ranking third in points, points per game, field goals made, steals and blocked shots. Her career-high 22 points came in the Green Wave's upset win over then-No. 20 Louisiana State University.

She posted five multiple-block outings and a pair of multiple steal contests, including high-water marks in both categories against Purdue University on Nov. 24, when she posted seven thefts and swatted three shots.