Senior guard Jade Smith-Williams guided UC Irvine to a conference-opening victory over UC Riverside to grab the first Big West Women's Basketball Player of the Week for 2011. This is Smith-Williams second honor of the season.

Smith-Williams drained a season-high 28 points to lead the Anteaters to a 53-46 victory over the Highlanders, who were selected third and received two first-place votes in the Big West preseason media poll. It was the first Big West opening day win for the Anteaters since 2007 and snaps an eight-game skid against the Highlanders.

The San Leandro, Calif., native scored 14 of the teams 29 first half points including the last three points of the half to give the Anteaters a 29-24 advantage at intermission. UC Riverside narrowed the lead to two (40-38) with 5:59 remaining, but Smith-Williams answered with a three-pointer then hit a pair of free throws following two points by the Highlanders to keep the five-point cushion. The Highlanders closed within three (47-44) with 1:08 left, but Smith-Williams went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe to secure the win.

Her 28 points is the fifth-best point total in the league this year and is the most in conference play. She shot a season-best .615 (8-of-13) from the floor and .714 (5-of-7) from three-point range, playing the complete 40 minutes. Her five three-pointers tied her career-high. The senior also registered 7-of-8 (.875) from the free throw line. UCI has won nine of the last 10 outings and has tied the win total of the entire 2008-09 season (9-21).

Others nominated: Jasmine Erving (Cal State Northridge), Paige Mintun (UC Davis), Emilie Johnson (UC Santa Barbara), Christina Thompson (Pacific)