Nov. 26, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State men's basketball player Stephen DuCharme has been named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week it was announced by the league office on Monday. DuCharme was also named the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week, which is voted on by a state media panel, for the period ending on Sunday, Nov. 25.

It is the first time DuCharme has been named WAC Player of the Week and the fifth time Utah State players has received the weekly honor from the league office during the past three years.

DuCharme, a 6-8 forward from Andover, Kan., (Andover HS/Hutchinson CC) helped Utah State record a 2-1 record last week and finish in third-place at the 2007 South Padre Island Invitational with wins against Austin Peay (71-68) and Iowa (75-62) and a loss to Vanderbilt (77-56). DuCharme began the week by scoring 10 points and adding four rebounds against the Governors. He then scored 20 points to go along with six rebounds against the Commodores, followed by 20 points and three rebounds against the Hawkeyes in the consolation finals of the tournament.

During the two-day tournament in South Padre Island, Texas, DuCharme was named to the all-tournament team as he averaged 20.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, while shooting 64.3 percent from the field (18-28). For the week, DuCharme averaged 16.7 points and 4.3 rebounds, while shooting 64.7 percent from the field (22-34), 50.0 percent from three-point range (1-2) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (5-6).

On the season, DuCharme is averaging 13.6 points and 6.1 rebounds and is shooting 63.9 percent from the field and 76.2 percent from the free throw line. Through eight games, he has scored in double-figures six times, has three 20-point games and two double-figure rebounding games. Overall, he ranks second in the WAC in field goal shooting and 10th in scoring.

Utah State is 4-4 on the season and has the week off before hosting Santa Clara on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Nominees from other sports included:
FOOTBALL - Senior quarterback Leon Jackson III (Long Beach, Calif.) accounted for all three of Utah State's touchdowns on Saturday as the Aggies won at Idaho, 24-19. The win gives USU its first two-game winning streak since 2003 and its first back-to-back road wins since 1999. Against the Vandals, Jackson was 11-of-15 passing for 118 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball 14 times for 11 yards, including a pair of one-yard TD runs.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - Junior guard Danyelle Snelgro (Altadena, Calif.) scored a season-high 16 points in Utah State's 89-74 home loss to Utah Valley last weekend. She also had a season-highs in rebounds (4) and assists (3) in the game.

2007-08 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners

Sept. 4 - Dana Peart, Soccer
Sept. 10 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball
Sept. 17 - Dana Peart, Soccer
Sept. 24 - Kevin Robinson, Football
Oct. 1 - Melissa Osterloh, Volleyball
Oct. 8 - Kevin Robinson, Football
Oct. 15 - Seth Wold, Cross Country
Oct. 22 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball
Oct. 29 - Seth Wold, Cross Country
Nov. 5 - Lauren Hansen, Soccer
Nov. 12 - Danielle Taylor, Volleyball
Nov. 19 - Rob Myers, Football
Nov. 26 - Stephen DuCharme, Men's Basketball