First Week Women’s Award Winners

Big Wins and Big Performances

(St. Louis, MO) – Drake is 3-0 with a win over a ‘power 6’ team, Belmont earned a ‘money conference’ victory and two OVC teams defeated two MVC teams. Our first week women’s award winners for the Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conferences reflect some of those big wins.

OVC members Southern Indiana and Western Illinois each have two early victories and Illinois Chicago is turning heads with two regional wins and a narrow loss to Northwestern.

Player of the Week Award Winners

During Drake’s first three games, Grace Berg is averaging 19 points and 5.7 points. The Valley’s ‘Player of the Week’ tallied 22 points in the Bulldogs’ Sunday win over Iowa State. The grad-student was one of three Bulldogs to reach the 20-point plateau in the team’s win over its Big Ten rival.

Freshmen are impressing the OVC.

Western Illinois is making a big impression during its first week as a member of the OVC. The Leathernecks are 2-1 with wins over Mount Mercy and Northern Illinois. Leading the way is freshman Raegan McCowan. The 5’11 guard is averaging 18.3 points and 7.3 rebounds and recorded a double-double (13/11) at Wisconsin. The ‘Co-Player of the Week’ ranks 28^th among the nation’s freshman scorers.

Joining McCowan is Eastern Illinois rookie Lalani Ellis. The 5’8 guard topped the 20-point mark twice in three games and is averaging 17 points and 7.0 rebounds for the 1-2 Panthers. Her 22-point Sunday performance sparked EIU to a regional win over Valparaiso and earned Ellis a share of the ‘Player of the Week’ award.

Newcomer Award Winners

Little Rock played a demanding first week of competition, losing to Missouri State and at Kansas State, but junior college transfer Jordan Holman topped double digits in both games and is averaging 11.5 points for the Trojans. The OVC’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’ is a 5’10 junior from Hugo, Oklahoma.

Bradley’s Kaylen Nelson exploded on to the scene with a 31-point performance during the Braves’ opening night loss at Kansas City. The Old Dominion transfer scored 13 points in the Braves’ home opener and in addition to leading the team in minutes played, she is the Valley’s ‘Newcomer of the Week’.

Freshman Award Winners

As you would imagine EIU’s Ellis and WIU’s McCowan are the OVC’s ‘Co-Freshmen of the Week’.

Belmont opened the season with two games against Southeastern Conference foes. The Bruins narrowly lost at Missouri before winning their home opener against Georgia. MVC ‘Freshman of the Week’ Jailyn Banks pumped in 23 points in Columbia, Missouri and then scored nine against the Bulldogs. Banks added five assists and five rebounds during the victory.

The MVC and OVC men’s award winners were announced earlier.

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Editor: Cover photo courtesy of belmontBruins.com (Garrett Ohrenberg)