USF forward Jessica Dickson was named Conference USA Player of the Week one day after the freshman scored a career-high 36 points in an upset double-overtime victory against No. 18 TCU in the Sun Dome.

Dickson’s 36-point effort was a C-USA freshman scoring record and the fourth-best point total in USF history. Dickson made 12 of 30 field goals and 10 of 14 free throws. Her 30 field-goal attempts also tied a school record.

“I thought she was fantastic,” TCU coach Jeff Mittie said. “She hit a lot of jump shots with a hand in her face. It was a heck of a game, you know. You know they’re going to her, and she just made some big plays.”

Dickson nailed two buzzer beaters against the Horned Frogs, including a half-court shot to force a second overtime. She then scored nine points in the final period to seal the win.

Dickson averaged 30.5 points during the week after scoring 25 points, including 23 in the second half, in Saturday’s home loss to No. 24 Houston.

Dickson leads USF in scoring this season, averaging 17.9 points per game, which also ranks fifth in the conference. She has scored in double figures in 18 of 21 games this season and more than 20 points seven times, five of which were during the last nine games.

Dickson also moved into fourth place on USF’s all-time freshman scoring list with 367 points this season.

This is the second time a USF player has been named C-USA Player of the Week this season. Freshman center Nalini Miller was named player of the week ending Jan. 4 after averaging 17 points and eight rebounds in a win against Florida Atlantic University and a loss to No. 12 Georgia.

McGaffagan, too

USF senior Alexis McGaffagan was named Conference USA Female Track and Field Athlete of the Week after her performance this past weekend at the adidas Boston Indoor Games.

McGaffagan broke her own school record in the high jump with a mark of 5-feet-9.25 inches. In addition, McGaffagan set a new C-USA record in the pentathlon with a score of 3,893 points, breaking her own record again. That mark also provisionally qualified McGaffagan for the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Bulls down to 6

USF guard James Holmes may be out for the season after he fractured his left ankle during Friday’s practice.

The sophomore, who saw minutes in 11 games this season, was averaging 4.2 points per game. He scored a career-high 10 points in a loss to Memphis on Jan. 27.

Holmes’ loss would further hurt an already thin bench. The Bulls would be down to only six scholarship players and three walk-ons if he is unable to return. In addition to two injuries, seven other players have either quit or been dismissed by coach Robert McCullum for disciplinary reasons this season.

Holmes will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

Selmon gets his sixth

USF defensive tackle Leroy Selmon Jr. was awarded a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA on Monday.

The senior can play for the football team next fall, his sixth year at USF. He was awarded another year of eligibility after he sat out for the 2001 and 2002 season with knee injuries.

With him on the team, the Bulls will return eight starters on defense for the 2004 season.

Adam Adkins & Thomas Simonetti