Despite ranking in the top five of four major statistical categories, Colorado junior Brittany Spears was left off the Big 12 Conference first and second basketball teams after a vote of the league’s coaches Monday.
Spears, a guard-forward, was named to the honorable mention list for a second season, after also being voted there her freshman year. Among Big 12 players this season, she ranks fourth in scoring (17.5 points) and steals (2.0), and fifth in rebounds (8.0) and free-throw percentage (.840).
There were 15 players voted ahead of her — the Big 12 women name 10 players to its first team and five to the second team.
Colorado senior guard Bianca Smith was tabbed the Big 12 sixth man of the year. She averaged 13.2 points after coming off the bench in 24 of 29 games. She also led the league with 81 3-pointers.
Iowa State’s Anna Prins, a freshman center from Broomfield, was named to the all-freshman team.
