Jan. 5, 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Samford University freshman point guard Jerry Smith averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over three games to earn Ohio Valley Conference Rookie of the Week honors for the first time in his career on Monday.

Smith made his first collegiate start at Oklahoma State on Dec. 30, after scoring seven points and grabbing a career-high seven rebounds off the bench in a 63-62 loss at Memphis on Dec. 22. Smith added six points and six boards at Oklahoma State and then dropped in 10 points on 3-4 shooting in a 94-46 victory over Tennessee-Wesleyan last Saturday.

The Picayune, Miss., native was 5-8 (62.5 percent) from three-point range and shot 57 percent from the floor over the three games and dished out seven assists.

Samford swept the Rookie of the Week voting this week as Alex Munday won the women's award for the sixth-straight week.

Smith and the Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday as Samford opens OVC play against Jacksonville State in a 7 p.m. tip-off at Seibert Hall.