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Earlier this week, Natalie Achonwa of the University of Notre Dame was named one of the top fifty players in America. In an early season watch list for The Naismith Trophy, which recognizes the womens college player of the year, the Guelph, Ontario native was one of two Canadians acknowledged. She made the accomplishment while rehabbing from a meniscus tear in her right knee, which forced her to miss the first three games of the season. If the injury sounds familiar, its the same one that has sidelined Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose for the rest of the NBA season. However, Achonwa, a 63 forward, underwent a different surgical procedure which allowed her to get back on the court in four weeks to compete in her final year. In Achonwas first three seasons at Notre Dame, they have made it to the Final Four each time and lost in the championship game twice. "I always say its like we went to the ball three years in a row, and we never got the crown," she states. "We were always the bridesmaid and never got to wear the dress. I know the three seniors and captains between us - we want to leave Notre Dame a legacy. The class before us with Skylar Diggins and Kaila Turner, they really started something and we battled with them for three years to three Final Fours, and this year we want that ring. After all weve been through, thats whats pushing us to leave Notre Dame on a high note." This seasons Fighting Irish squad is already off to a strong start, undefeated at 5-0 and ranked No. 5 in the country. In a rare NCAA game on Sunday December 1, they will host Duquesne at Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario. "One of the reasons I came to Notre Dame is you have opportunities like this," she says. "We went to Europe this year, weve done so much and now coach is letting me have a senior game back at home. Im just really blessed for the opportunity to be able play in front of my family and friends." Achonwa isnt a stranger to playing in Canada or for her country. As a member of the Senior Womens National Team, she helped the squad to a silver medal at the FIBA Americas tournament this summer and a berth to the World Championships in 2014. Yet for all their success, the hype surrounding Canada Basketball still resides with the mens team. A program ranked 26th in the world and has fallen short of expectations in recent years, while the women seemingly get no respect. "I dont know if its about respect," Achowna says. "But more recognition that we are good and that we do compete for medals. Its just the popularity of womens basketball as a whole, its sad. Just because we cant dunk or throw alley-oops, people dont see it as entertaining. I think thats changing even with the Olympics two years ago and that brought some awareness back to the program. Just the rise and talent and how well weve been competing the last couple of years, and continuing on in the future. Im hoping it will bring some recognition in womens basketball." Her inclusion on the Naismith watch list already indicates that Achonwa is primed to be the recipient for more recognition, which will be key as she prepares for life after South Bend, Indiana. "I definitively want to continue to play outside of Canada Basketball, I want to play professionally as well," she says. "If I get drafted this year that would be great, but we have a very competitive class and theres a lot of great players." What may come off as false modesty is the reality that its not easy to make a WNBA roster, particularly with only 12 teams in the league. "Theres a great difference between the WNBA and NBA. If youre not a top five pick, youre trying out for a team, youre not on the team. If I make a team, I would love to be in the WNBA, but I would play overseas." However, right now shes more concerned with how shes going to finish this week, playing basketball at home with her friends and family watching, and taking one more step towards winning a national championship. Will Harris Youth Jersey .Y. -- That hangover from the Big East tournament is gone for Villanova. Barry Sanders Youth Jersey . Top-seeded Djokovic swept to a 6-1, 6-3 win over 51st-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in just 57 minutes, but fourth-seeded Federer had to see off a serious challenge from 48th-ranked Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic before coming through 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3. http://www.lionsfanspro.com/Black-Jarrad-Davis-Lions-Jersey.html?cat=920 . The post-season, Pierce said repeatedly, is no time to panic. And the Heat, apparently, are nothing to fear. Darius Slay Jr Jersey . -- Without Carey Price, the run for a first Stanley Cup in 21 years got steeper and longer for the Montreal Canadiens. Marvin Jones Jr Lions Jersey .Y. - Referee Ed Hochuli referred to replay official Tom Sifferman by his nickname Jungle Boy, which was heard on the in-stadium microphone during the Arizona Cardinals-Carolina Panthers NFC wild-card game Saturday.Albuquerque, NM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New Mexico Bowl was bereft of big plays, but Kent Myers accounted for two of them as Utah State grinded out a 21-6 victory over UTEP on Saturday. Myers ran for a 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter and set up a Nick Vigil TD run in the third with a 46-yard pass to JoJo Natson. The Aggies were otherwise stagnant on offense, but so were the Miners, who converted 5-of-20 third-down tries and managed just 149 rushing yards, well below their season average of 212. Utah State (10-4) reached double-digit wins for the second time in school history and posted its third straight postseason victory. The Miners (7-6) were hoping to end their campaign the way they started -- with a win at University Stadium in Albuquerque. They upended New Mexico there in the season opener behind Aaron Jones 237 yards and three TDs on the ground, but Jones was limited to 88 yards on 25 carries in the finale. Jameill Showers completed 13-of-24 passes for 126 yards and an interception in defeat. A quiet opening half ended with Utah State clinging to a 7-3 lead, and there were not many fireworks in the second half other than the Aggies 7-play, 75- yard drive to start the third quarter. Natson caught a slant over the middle and zigzagged through the defense down to the UTEP 24-yard line. Myers ran it down to the 3 with a 14-yard run on third down, and Vigil punched it in from there. After Nick Diaz missed a 47-yard field goal with under 10 minutes to play, UTEP held the ball for nearly seven minutes thanks to a pair of fourth-down converrsions.dddddddddddd. Faced with a 4th-and-6 from the Utah State 16-yard line, the Miners opted for a field goal, and Jay Mattox booted a 34-yarder to cut the deficit to one possession with 3:02 remaining. Rather than attempt an onside kick, UTEP opted to kick the ball deep, and Mattox shanked it out of bounds. Joe Hill sealed the win and Utah States 279-yard day on the ground with an 11-yard touchdown run. Mattox kicked a 32-yard field goal with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter, but on the third play of the ensuing drive, Myers took a shotgun draw 48 yards for a score. The freshman QB faked a screen pass, kept it himself up the middle, slipped past a defender at the 45 and outran everyone else before diving over the goal line. Both teams made costly mistakes just before halftime. Following a second straight Myers turnover, the Miners lined up for a chip shot field goal try, only to have the holder drop the snap. Utah States Ronald Butler had a touchdown run called back in the closing seconds because of an illegal formation penalty, and Diaz proceeded to hook a 28-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the half. Game Notes The Aggies won 11 games in 2012 ... Utah State was 1-6 in bowl games prior to winning three in a row ... The Miners fell to 5-9 all-time in bowl appearances, with all five of their wins coming in the Sun Bowl ... Utah State won the only other two meetings in 1960 and 61 ... Myers completed only 5- of-12 passes for 68 yards with an interception. He also lost a fumble. ' ' '