SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - After turning in her fourth career 30-point performance in leading Missouri State to an opening night victory over Lamar last Friday, junior guard Casey Garrison has been named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

Garrison, the reigning MVC Player of the Year, overcame a sluggish start to catch fire just in time to spearhead MSU's rally from a 14-point deficit to a decisive 83-60 victory over Lamar, a team that went 26-8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year. Garrison torched the Cardinals for 33 points-26 of which came in the second half-and accounted for 13 points during a key 27-4 run that put the Lady Bears on top for good.

Like most of her Lady Bear teammates, Garrison spent most of the first half Friday trying to shake off the rust, going just 1-for-8 from the field over the first 17:56 of the game. But the Naismith Trophy candidate converted her first three-point field goal attempt of the season with just over two minutes to play in the half to kick-off a stretch that would see her knock down 10 straight field goal attempts and rack up 31 points over the ensuing 17:41 period.  She would finish the night 5-of-5 at the foul line and 12-of-20 from the field, including a career-best 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Garrison also matched a personal high with two blocks while recording a game-high six assists and a team-high eight rebounds.

The honor for Garrison is her ninth MVC weekly citation, after earning three player of the week nods last year and one the previous season. She was named MVC Newcomer of the Week four times in 2008-09 and captured the league's Freshman of the Year honor as well.

MSU will match-up against DePaul this evening at 7:05 p.m., in a Preseason WNIT quarterfinal contest at JQH Arena. Tickets for the game are available through the Missouri State Athletics Box Office by calling (417) 836-7678.

 -MSU-