OVC/MVC Outstanding Women’s Performances

UNI’s Laube Explodes

(St. Louis, MO) – Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conference basketball players produced some outstanding women’s performances. Northern Iowa’s Kayba Laube was breaking records and Tennessee State’s Somah Komara is pulling away from her competition.

While both leagues are under .500 during the nonconference season, both are gaining ground with each passing day.

Players of the Week

Kayba Laube broke Northern Iowa and Paradise Jam records. The 5’9 senior scored 34 points during the Panthers’ win over Pittsburgh. Her ten, three-point baskets were the record-breaking performance for her school and the tournament. This week’s MVC ‘Player of the Week’ is just the fifth Valley player to ever make ten triples in a single game.

Kate Novik helped propel Morehead State to a pair of victories. The 5’9 sophomore averaged 22 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists during the Eagle victories. Novik becomes the OVC’s fourth different ‘Player of the Week’ honoree during the conference’s four weeks of action.

Newcomers Outstanding Women’s Performances

Illinois State went 2-1 at the Gulf Coast Classic and Redbird guard Elyce Knudsen had a big hand in that success. The 5’8 grad student averaged 14.6 points during the Fort Myers-based tournament. This week’s Valley ‘Newcomer of the Week’ helped spark the Redbirds to their first two wins of the season.

Kennedy Claybrooks is the OVC’s fifth different ‘Newcomer of the Week’. The Texas State transfer helped Southeast Missouri to a split of its two games against MVC teams. She did a little bit of everything, averaging 14 points, 6.5 rebounds and five assists.

Top Rookies

Knudsen isn’t the only Illinois State to be honored due to outstanding women’s performances. Freshman Doneelah Washington averaged 8.6 points, but had back-to-back double-digit scoring performances and is the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Week.’

Komara averaged 22 points-per-game during Tennessee State’s two games. The 5’10 forward has claimed three straight OVC ‘Freshman of the Week’ honors. Komara is the nation’s fifth highest scoring first year player.

 

Editor: Cover photo of Somah Kamara courtesy of TSUTigers.com.