DENVER – California Baptist’s Caitlyn Harper has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week with Chicago State’s Aaliyah Collins earning TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week.
Harper set a season’s best conference mark in addition to posting a double-double in helping the Lancers to pair of road wins in the Beehive State. The junior started her week with a 17-point, 10-rebound performance as CBU cruised past Dixie State 88-60 on Thursday. Two days later she scored 30 points in 28 minutes in her team’s 15-point win over Utah Valley. Her scoring outburst is the most in a WAC conference game this season. It is her second WAC weekly honor during the current campaign.
Collins was a scoring machine in the Cougars three games. On Monday she recorded her first collegiate double-double (26 point, 10 rebounds) as Chicago State notched a seven-point road win at Seattle U. The guard then followed that with 10 points against UT Rio Grande Valley then a 21-point effort against Lamar. During her 57-point week, she recorded a 56.1 percent shooting effort. This is her fourth Freshman of the Week award this season.
Other nominees included: Aiyana Johnson averaged 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game with a 76.2 shooting percentage, including a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double to open the week, as Stephen F. Austin went 2-0 … Amara Graham averaged 15.5 points in Grand Canyon’s wins at Abilene Christian and Tarleton; her go-ahead three-pointer late in the game helped seal the win against ACU … Anyssia Gibbs helped Lamar to a pair of wins in three games, including a career high 20-point effort in a victory at Chicago State … Bella Earle shot 63.6 percent from the floor in Abilene Christian’s three games while averaging 13.7 points per game; including a career high 16 points in a comeback win vs. New Mexico State … Shanaijah Davis scored 20 points in each game as Dixie State split games against California Baptist and Seattle U … Seynabou Thiam averaged 7.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.0 blocks for Tarleton; her eight blocks in a win against New Mexico State is a WAC season high … Taylor Muff scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds as UT Rio Grande Valley beat Chicago State … Bigue Sarr averaged 10.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in three contests from New Mexico State … Collins was also considered after her three-game run
Other freshman nominees included: Ja’Mya Powell-Smith averaged 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists as Grand Canyon won road games at Abilene Christian and Tarleton … Trinity San Antonio started both games and averaged 9.5 points and 2.0 steals for California Baptist … Bella Earle total 41 points in three games for Abilene Christian (13.7 ppg) … Macie Warren tallied 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in Dixie State two game split against California Baptist and Seattle U … KaCee Kyle scored 11 points and had three assists in UT Rio Grande Valley’s lone game; beating Chicago State 58-47