DENVER ? New Mexico State senior Sherell Neal has been named the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for her play during the week of Jan. 7-13.
Neal, from Phoenix, Ariz. (Alhambra HS), helped New Mexico State to a 3-0 conference start with victories over Boise State and Utah State last week.
The senior forward tied a career high with 18 rebounds in addition to 14 points and two steals in a win over Boise State. Neal’s 18 boards against the Broncos ties the WAC’s single-game rebound mark this season. The double-double against Boise State is Neal’s eighth of the season and 33rd of her career. She followed up her performance against the Broncos with an 18-point, six-rebound effort against Utah State. Neal also dished out a season-high four assists in the win over the Aggies.
On the week, Neal averaged 16.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. She also registered a 90 percent clip (9-10) from the free throw line and shot 50.0 percent (11-22) from the field.
Other nominees included: Boise State center Amanda Stewart helped Boise State to a 1-1 record last week, averaging 10.0 points and 10.5 rebounds over the two-game road trip ... Fresno State guard Tierre Wilson scored a game-high 22 points, 17 in the second half in a win over Idaho ... Hawai?i center Tanya Smith recorded a double-double in back-to-back road games ... Louisiana Tech forward JoKeirra Sneed helped the Lady Techsters to a 1-1 mark last week, averaging 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game ... Nevada guard Dellena Criner led the Wolf Pack to a 2-0 start in WAC play after averaging 18.0 points per game ... Utah State guard Taylor Richards became the fifth player in Aggie history to reach the 1,000 point milestone, helping USU to a 1-1 record last week in the process.