TicketSmarter WAC Women’s Basketball Players of the Week Announced
DENVER – Utah Valley's Josie Williams has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week and Chicago State's Aaliyah Collins was named TicketSmarter WAC Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week for November 8-14.
Williams, a junior center from West Jordan, Utah, had a pair of monster games to help the Wolverines go 2-0 on the week. On Tuesday against Colorado Mesa, she finished with 17 points and added 13 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in a 62-50 win. She found a way to step her game up even more on Saturday, scoring 17 points and bringing down a career-high 19 rebounds while also adding four blocks and three assists in a 62-43 win over Portland State. She currently leads the nation with 14.0 rebounds per game.
Collins, a freshman guard from Snohomish, Wash., is honored for the second time after leading the Cougars to a 71-63 win at Wisconsin to break a two-year losing streak. Against the Badgers, she scored 25 points and added six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in the upset win. She finished the week averaging 21.3 points per game to go with 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game adding in games against Florida International and Delaware.
Other nominees included: Abilene Christian's Jamie Bonnarens had back-to-back 16-point games at Kansas City and against Little Rock and then added 13 points in a win against Arkansas State … California Baptist's Ane Olaeta put up a team high 25 points with 10 assists in the Lancers' 91-77 win over TCU on Saturday … Chicago State's Aaliyah Collins averaged 21.3 points per game to go with 6.3 rebounds per game as the Cougars picked up a big win at Wisconsin before falling at FIU and against Delaware … Dixie State's Emily Isaacson scored 22 points and brought down seven rebounds in a home loss to Kansas City … Grand Canyon's Amara Graham put up 13 points in back-to-back games to help the Lopes earn home wins over Nicholls State and Houston Baptist … NM State's Bigue Sarr was the Aggies' leading scorer at the San Juan Shootout, averaging 11.0 ppg on 60.0% shooting in a loss to LSU and a win against Tennessee Tech … Seattle U's Bree Calhoun was named to the South Point Shootout All-Tournament Team after averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game in a win over SMU and a close loss to UTEP … Stephen F. Austin's Aiyana Johnson helped the 'Jacks to a 3-0 week, averaging 16.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in wins over New Mexico, Ball State and ULM … Tarleton's Malaya Kendrick scored averaged 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as the Texans earned a road win at College of Charleston before dropping a home matchup with Western Illinois … UT Rio Grande Valley's Sara Bershers led the team with 23 points in a home loss to future WAC foe Southern Utah.
Other freshman nominees included: Dixie State's Maddie Warren scored seven points for the 'Blazers in a 76-62 home loss to Kansas City … Grand Canyon's Kiyley Flowers posted 17 points with five steals and three assists in a 103-55 win over Nicholls State on Friday.