WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University sophomore Niki Laskaris of Swampscott, Mass., has been selected as the University Athletic Association (UAA) Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Dec. 2.

Laskaris earned the accolade despite playing just 20 minutes during the Judges' 80-72 win against #25 Emmanuel College last Tuesday. The 5-foot-9 guard poured in a game-high 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting, leading a Brandeis squad that shot 49 percent from the field. Laskaris also went 4-4 at the line and 2-2 from downtown, and added four rebounds and two assists.

In her second season with the Judges, Laskaris has gotten off to a scorching start offensively. The sophomore has played in just two contests this year due to injury, but leads Brandeis with 19.5 points per game on 50-percent shooting – she scored a career-high 21 points during a November 16 loss to Colby. Overall, she is shooting 57 percent from 3-point range and 87.5 percent at the charity stripe, both team-highs as well.

The Judges are 2-3 under head coach Carol Simon this season, including 1-1 against ranked teams. Brandeis will host UMass-Dartmouth tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.

Laskaris is a 2012 graduate of Swampscott High School. She is the daughter of Peter and Helen Laskaris, Swampscott, Mass.