Beard, Jackson named WNBA Players of the Week

Aug 20, 2007 - 9:48 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Alana Beard of the Washington Mystics and Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively on Monday.

Beard earned her second Player of the Week award this season after averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists as the Mystics posted a 2-1 record for the week.

On August 14, Beard led the Mystics to a much-needed win by recording 28 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in a 65-64 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. She shot 10-for-22 from the floor, including 5-of-8 in the fourth quarter as she tallied 18 points.

The Mystics defeated the Sun again on Sunday in the regular-season game finale, with Beard compiling 21 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 76-74 win. With 0.1 seconds left, Beard's assist to Monique Currie resulted in a 3-pointer that secured the triumph.

Jackson receives her fifth weekly award of the season and the 12th of her career, after averaging 25 points, 12 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals as the Storm finished the week 2-0, while clinching a playoff berth.

On Friday, Jackson had 32 points and 15 rebounds to lead Seattle to a 97-77 win over the Los Angeles Sparks, clinching the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The game marked Jackson's ninth 30-plus point game this season, breaking Diana Taurasi's single-season record. It was also the 17th of her career, surpassing Cynthia Cooper's all-time record.