PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s first weekly women’s basketball honors, for the week ending Sunday, Jan. 5.
 
Player of the Week
Christyn Williams * So. * G * UConn
Williams averaged 20 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists and a steal in UConn’s 2-0 start to conference play last week. Against Wichita State on Thursday, she was all over the court, scoring 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting with eight rebounds and a team-high six assists. Williams then led the Huskies with 21 points (9-of-16 from the field) in 32 minutes at SMU, grabbing three rebounds and dishing out a pair of assists. The sophomore is the third Husky to earn Player of the Week accolades so far this season.
 
Freshman of the Week
Elena Tsineke * Fr. * G* USF
Tsineke tied her career-high with 19 points, leading USF in the Bulls’ 76-68 victory over Cincinnati to start conference play. She hit the total on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. In 36 minutes, Tsineke added three rebounds and four assists while shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line. USF snapped Cincinnati’s six-game win streak, while Tsineke has hit double-figures in eight of her 10 games as a Bull.
 
 
Weekly Honor Roll
 
Brittney Smith * So. * F * UCF
Registered a career-high 21 points in 23 minutes as UCF defeated ECU to start conference play; shot 8-of-10 from the floor, including 5-of-5 from the foul line, with five rebounds and two steals
 
IImar’I Thomas * Jr. * F * Cincinnati
Led all players with 23 points, connecting on 10-of 14 (71.4 percent) from the floor in Cincinnati’s hard-fought setback to USF on Sunday; added seven rebounds and a block
 
Julia Blackshell-Fair * Jr. * G * Houston
Led Houston in points (19), rebounds (eight) and assists (six) in the full 40 minutes in a 75-65 win over Memphis; shot 8-of-16 (50 percent) from the field
 
Marissa Mackins * So. * G * Temple
Scored a game-high 25 points in Temple’s 74-65 overtime win at Tulsa on Saturday, going 7-of-19 from the field with five 3-pointers; rounded out her line with two rebounds, two assists and two steals
 
Sierra Cheatham * Jr. * G * Tulane
Posted 12 points including a trio of 3-pointers and three foul shots in Tulane’s 61-56 win over Wichita State; led the Green Wave with seven boards to go along with two assists, two blocks and two steals