Thomas, Maxwell Named Women’s Hoops Players of the Week

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Games: January 4-9, 2021

EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ajanae Thomas, Jr., F, LeTourneau

LeTourneau junior forward Ajanae Thomas (Detroit, Mich.) averaged 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game as the YellowJackets picked up a pair of home conference wins. She scored 26 points and shot 9-of-14 from the field and 6-for-6 at the line in an 80-65 victory over Hardin-Simmons. Thomas followed with 21 points and eight boards in a 62-53 win against McMurry. 

WEST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Madi Maxwell, So., G, Concordia Texas

Concordia Texas sophomore guard Madi Maxwell (Wichita Falls, Texas) led the Tornados with 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game as they opened ASC play 1-1 on the road. She tied her career-high with 18 points, going three-of-four from outside, and pulled down nine rebounds in a 68-56 win at Ozarks. Maxwell produced 17 points with four steals in a 62-58 loss at UT Dallas. 

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES

EAST DIVISION

UT Dallas senior guard Raenett Hughes (College Station, Texas) averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as she sparked the Comets to a pair of come-from-behind home wins last week to open ASC play. Hughes scored 10 points, all in the second half, Thursday as UTD rallied for a 62-58 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor. She then scored a game-high 24 points while adding nine rebounds Saturday after trailing Concordia Texas by nine points early to earn another 62-58 victory.

Ozarks junior guard Kerigan Bradshaw (Harrison, Ark.) averaged 18.5 points per game and hit 16-of-19 (84.2%) from the free-throw line over two games for Ozarks. She hit all ten of her free throw attempts and scored 22 points in Mary Hardin-Baylor’s loss.

 East Texas Baptist junior guard Bridget Upton (George West, Texas) came off the bench to average 11.5 points and 2.5 steals per game as the Tigers moved to 10-0 on the season. She scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting and 3-for-4 from outside to go with two steals in a 77-50 win over Hardin-Simmons. 

WEST DIVISION

Mary Hardin-Baylor sophomore forward Hannah Eggleston (Magnolia, Texas) averaged 6.5 points, and 6.0 rebounds per game as the Cru went 1-1 last week. She also had three assists, and a steal as UMHB relied on a balanced scoring attack. Eggleston shot 36 (5-of-14) percent from the field and 1-of-2 from three-point range.

McMurry sophomore forward Destiny Mathews (Palestine, Texas) averaged 14.5 points, and 7.0 rebounds per game as the War Hawks opened ASC play with a pair of losses on the road. She tied a season-high with 21 points on 10-of-21 shooting, to go with seven boards at LeTourneau.

Sul Ross State sophomore forward Kaylee Martinez (El Paso, Texas) sported a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds to go with three assists and two steals in a 64-58 win at Belhaven. She followed with eight points and five rebounds in a loss at Millsaps. For the week, she averaged 9.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest.

Baker, Couch, Bone, Walsh Earn Weekly Men’s Hoops Awards

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Games: January 7-9, 2021

CO-EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kae’ron Baker, Sr., G, Louisiana College

Louisiana College senior Kae’ron Baker (Navasota, Texas) averaged 25.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game as the Wildcats opened the season with a pair of conference victories. He scored 16 points with six assists in a 72-51 win over Howard Payne. Baker then tied a career-high with 35 points, 24 of which came in the second half to help overcome a ten-point deficit, in a 79-73 win over Sul Ross State. It is his fourth career Player of the Week honors. 

CO-EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Luke Couch, So., G, Belhaven

Belhaven sophomore guard Luke Couch (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) led all players with 29 points in a 79-77 victory over Sul Ross State. He also recorded two rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block while shooting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) for the Blazers.

CO-WEST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Spencer Bone, Jr., F, Concordia Texas

Concordia Texas junior forward Spencer Bone (Cibolo, Texas) scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half and led the Tornados to a season-opening 106-101 non-conference win over Mary-Hardin-Baylor last Friday. Bone shot 8-of-10 from behind the arc and snagged five rebounds as the Tornados held on the Cru late for the road win. It is Bone’s second career Player of the Week award.

CO-WEST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Aidan Walsh, So., G, Hardin-Simmons

Hardin-Simmons sophomore guard Aidan Walsh (Katy, Texas) averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game as the Cowboys defeated the defending ASC champion runner-up on the road. He scored a career-high 29 points with six rebounds, hitting five three-pointers in an 84-79 win at LeTourneau. Walsh followed with 11 points and three assists in an 84-83 victory at East Texas Baptist. It is his second Player of the Week of the season.

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES

EAST DIVISION 

East Texas Baptist junior guard Aaron Gregg (Austin, Texas) averaged 22.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 3.5 steals per game as the Tigers went 1-1 at home. He scored 22 points, going 11-of-14 from the free-throw line, in a 77-72 victory over McMurry. Gregg then followed with a double-double of 22 points and ten assists to go with five steals in a one-point loss to Hardin-Simmons.

WEST DIVISION

Mary Hardin-Baylor sophomore guard Josiah Johnson (Big Sandy, Texas) had a double-double with 39 points and 11 rebounds to keep the Cru in the game in a 106-101 non-conference loss to Concordia. He shot 55 percent (11-of-20) from the field, 67 percent (4-of-6) from the three-point range, and 93 percent (13-of-14) from the line. Josiah scored 38 or more points for the third straight game. He also added four assists, a blocked shot, and a steal.

McMurry junior forward DJ Worrell (El Paso, Texas) averaged 20.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game as the War Hawks went 0-2 to start ASC play. He posted a pair of double-doubles with 21 and 12 at East Texas Baptist and 20 and 11 at LeTourneau. For the week, Worrell shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field.

Sul Ross State senior guard Tristen Licon (El Paso, Texas) averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists as the Lobos picked up a pair of road losses. He had 20 points in a 79-77 loss to Belhaven, followed by 23 points, eight boards, and three steals in a 79-73 loss at Louisiana College.