McGlone and Learn Lead the Way
(St. Louis, MO) – Eastern Illinois star Macy McGlone and Murray State senior Ava Learn were busy posting double-doubles and earned weekly awards. The rest of the Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conference stars did remarkable things.
Some truly special seasons are being enjoyed by several teams in the OVC and MVC.
Double-Doubles = Players of the Week
Double-doubles are nothing new to EIU’s McGlone. The fifth-year senior is averaging 18.1 points and eleven rebounds per game. Last week the OVC ‘Player of the Week’ averaged 20 points and SIXTEEN rebounds during the Panthers’ two victories. The weekly award is McGlone’s fifth this season. EIU’s OVC record is 8-0.
After spending two years at Milwaukee, McGlone has flourished in a Panther uniform. She has scored 1,259 EIU points and has grabbed 790 rebounds. Her career numbers of 1,359 and 911 are staggering.
Murray State’s Learn posted a pair of double-doubles as the Racers earned their first-ever wins at Drake and Northern Iowa. The Racers (12-4, 6-1) are tied for the Valley’s top spot and Learn is the league’s ‘Player of the Week’. She racked up totals of 14 points/19 rebounds and then 19 and 13.
Ironically, Learn and teammate Halli Poock have each won one weekly award, but Murray’s leading scorer, (and all-time, leading scorer) Katelyn Young has not.
Newcomers Shine
Lindenwood is putting together its best-ever Division 1 season and Gracy Wernli is a big reason why. Now a two-time OVC ‘Newcomer of the Week’ averaged 14.5 points last week and is averaging 10.8 ppg for the season. She, Ellie Brueggemann and three-time ‘Newcomer’ Brooke Coffey all average double digits for the 10-7, 6-2 Lions.
Joining Wernli as ‘Co-Newcomer of the Week’ is Tennessee Tech’s Keeley Carter. The Golden Eagles went 2-0 and Carter averaged 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds during the TTU sweep. Carter has claimed three ‘Newcomer’ awards.
Evansville’s Gift Uchenna now leads four MVC players with multiple ‘Newcomer of the Week’ awards. She has claimed the award three times and Addison Martin, Sarah Linthacum and Soleil Barnes each have two. The 6’3 junior racked up two, double-doubles of her own, averaging 23 points and 18 rebounds as SIU managed its first MVC victory.
Emerging Rookies
Southeast Missouri freshman Ainaya Williams averaged 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. The St. Louis native (Cardinal Ritter) tossed in 22 points against Tennessee Tech. She follows teammate Zoe Best (two times) as a winner of the OVC ‘Freshman of the Week’ award.
Evansville’s Camryn Runner has claimed six, ‘Freshman of the Week’ awards, but this week it is her teammate Avery Kelley grabbing the Valley’s title. Kelley recorded two-straight 18-point games, helping the Purple Aces to their first conference win.
Those two rookies have collected all the awards given to any Evansville player this season.
Do Good
Editor: Cover photo of Macy McGlone, courtesy of eiupanthers.com.
Twitter Feed
Three more road wins so far in @ValleyHoops as @BradleyUMBB @BelmontMBB & @UIC_MBB capture road wins. Looks like @DrakeBulldogsMB will do so too. #FatherHarry
Well @RacersWBB followed the men's example and swept Iowa in the @ValleyHoops race! Racers are 6-1 & if @BelmontWBB holds on to their Iowa sweep, the Bruins and Racers will be tied for first. What a trip for those two teams! #FatherHarry
After today's action, @EIUWBB is 8-0 in @OVCSports play. 4 teams @usiwbb @TTUWBB @LRTrojans @LindenwoodWBB are tied at 6-2. Six other teams are under .500. Great race to the finish lies ahead. #FatherHarry
Really entertaining game between @BelmontMBB & @UEAthletics_MBB. Under four minutes left in a one point game. Gabriel Pozzato back in the Aces' lineup. Rogers is playing like I've expected. Triples are dropping. It's fun and @kylejpeach bringing it on #ThePlus #FatherHarry
