PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly women’s basketball honors for the week ending Sunday, Jan. 14.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rangie Bessard • Sr. • F • Wichita State
Senior forward Rangie Bessard averaged 21.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 blocks last week after leading the Shockers to their first two conference victories. Bessard had 24 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Memphis and recorded 18 points, nine rebounds, five steals and four blocks at Tulane Saturday night. With her 18 points at Tulane, Bessard moved into 13th place on the Shockers’ all-time scoring list with 1,216 career points.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Iimar’I Thomas • Fr. • F • Cincinnati
Thomas helped the Bearcats to an undefeated week, 2-0, at home. She finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists against Houston and tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal versus Temple. The rookie’s 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game are second-best on the team.
Weekly Honor Roll
Ana Owens • Sr. • G • Cincinnati
Averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in a pair of conference home victories
Azura Stevens • RS-Jr. • F • UConn
Recorded her third and fourth double-double of the season averaging 19.0 points and 10 rebounds for UConn in only 21.5 minutes per contest in wins over UCF and Houston
Kitija Laksa • Jr. • G • USF
Had a game-high 29 points against Temple while shooting 50.0 percent from the 3-point arc and scored 16 points versus UCF. She finished the week averaging 22.5 points per game
Dai’ja Thomas • Jr. • F • SMU
Matched her career-best in points with 15 and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds for SMU to tie the Mustang program record and become the third player in The American to record 20 plus rebounds in a contest.
Tanaya Atkinson • Sr. • G • Temple
Averaged 33.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game last week and shot 55.3 percent (26-47) from the floor
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