ATLANTA, Ga. -- (February 17, 2004) Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State senior forward/center, has been named Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division I Player of the Month for January.

Ohlde averaged 21.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 blocks per game through the first seven games of the Big 12 Conference season. Ohlde led the conference in scoring for the month while holding on to fourth place in rebounding. Kansas State began their conference with a record of 6-1, including three wins over top 25 teams.

Twice in the month of January, Ohlde received Big 12 Player of the Week honors. On January 31, in a 74-65 win over Oklahoma, Ohlde scored 27 points and became the first Kansas State women's basketball player to reach 2,000 career points. She is the fourth player in Big 12 history to reach the milestone. Ohlde also has 39 career double-doubles, a school record.

Off the court, Ohlde was named to the Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for the Fall 2003 season. Ohlde was one of thirty Wildcats with a 4.0 grade-point average.

Currently, Kansas State is 19-3 overall, 10-1 (second behind Texas) in the Big 12. The Wildcat's have won their last two games by 30 and 20 points, respectively. Playing at in-state foe Kansas, the Wildcat's won decisively 81-51 behind Ohlde's team high 23 points. The last outing netted them an 89-69 victory over Nebraska.

Recently, Ohlde was named a Top 21 candidate for The State Farm Wade Trophy along with teammate Kendra Wecker.

Also nominated: Alana Beard, Duke University (Atlantic Coast); Kristy Brown, Stetson University (Atlantic Sun); Anna Montanana, George Washington University (Atlantic 10); Rebekkah Brunson, Georgetown University (Big East); Julie Gjersten, Weber State University (Big Sky); Katie Feenstra, Liberty University (Big South); Kelly Mazzante, Penn State (Big Ten); Emily Faurholt, University of Idaho (Big West); Khara Smith, DePaul (Conference USA); Hana Peljto, Harvard University (Ivy League); Jenel Stevens, Canisus College (Metro Atlantic Athletic); Casey Rost, Western Michigan (Mid-American); Zane Teilane, Western Illinois University (Mid-Continent); Mandy Clark, Deleware State University (Mid-Eastern Athletic); Kari Koch, Southwest Missouri State (Missouri Valley); RanDee Henry, UNLV (Mountain West); Beth Swink, St. Francis University (PA) (Northeast); Shanika Freeman, Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley); Nicole Powell, Stanford University (Pacific 10); Desire Almind, Bucknell University (Patriot League); Le'Coe Willingham, Auburn University (Southeastern); Katasha Brown, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Southern); Diamond Cosby, Northwestern State (Southland); Crystal Kitt, Alabama State University (Southwestern Athletic); Kate Murray, Loyola Marymount (West Coast); Amisha Carter, Louisiana Tech (Western Athletic Conference).

*WBCA NCAA Division I Player of the Month honors is based on achievements during respective month for nomination and game-by-game statistics. All nominations must come from the conference office and the player's head coach must be a member of the WBCA.

Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.