NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 9, 2018—Coppin State redshirt senior Genesis Lucas was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, the conference office announced today. North Carolina Central’s Kieche White earned Rookie of the Week honors, while North Carolina Central sophomore Paulina Afriyie and Coppin State sophomore Chance Graham were named Co-Defensive Players of the Week.
 
Lucas (G, 5-7, r-Sr., Brandywine, Md.) dropped a career-high 29 points at Norfolk State (17 in the second quarter) to go along with three steals, to kick off a week in which she averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.7 steals per contest. Lucas, who leads the MEAC in scoring and assists, also dropped 24 points and dished out six assists, while falling one rebound shy of a double-double, in a win over Florida A&M. Against Savannah State, she followed up her 17 points with nine assists, five rebounds and six steals.
 
White (G, 5-4, Fr., Washington, D.C.) scored a career-high 20 points in a comeback win at Delaware State, including nine points in a 20-8 run that helped North Carolina Central erase a 21-point deficit. She had five 3-pointers in that game, while also grabbing three steals and dishing out a pair of assists. She averaged 16.0 points and 2.5 steals per game for the week and was a combined 10-for-22 (.454) from the floor.
 
Afriyie (F, 5-11, So., Bronx, N.Y.) averaged 13.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game this past week. She grabbed 15 rebounds, to go along with 22 points, in a come-from-behind road win over Delaware State, while she also blocked four shots and grabbed 12 rebounds – 11 on the defensive end – against Norfolk State. She also had a pair of steals in that contest.
 
Graham (F, 5-11, So., Upper Marlboro, Md.) averaged 12.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game this past week. Against Savannah State, she grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds and had a pair of steals – while also scoring 15 points for her third double-double of the season. Against Norfolk State, Graham – the MEAC leader in rebounding and defensive rebounds – grabbed 11 boards and four steals.
 
Other Top Performers
Ashanti Hunt (B-CU) grabbed 13 rebounds and had five steals in an overtime win over Howard, to go along with 16 points.
 
Amaya Scott (B-CU) had nine points and five rebounds against Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Emily Williams (B-CU) scored a career-high 25 points in a win over South Carolina State, while also grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out seven assists and grabbing two steals.
 
Maraiyah Smith (CSU) scored in double figures in all three games this past week, including 15 against Florida A&M.
 
Ryan Jones (DSU) scored 12 points and dished out four assists against North Carolina Central.
 
NaJai Pollard (DSU) scored 21 points against North Carolina Central, before recording a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) in a win over South Carolina State.
 
Florence Ouattara (FAMU) scored in double figures in all three games this past week, including 18 against Morgan State and 16 in a win over Howard.
 
Jephany Brown (HAM) had 19 points and eight rebounds in a non-conference win over Columbia.
 
K’lynn Willis (HAM) scored 16 points, to go along with five rebounds, four assists and two steals, at Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
LaShayla Wright-Ponder (HAM) set season highs in points (17) and rebounds (eight) at Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Sarah Edmond (HOW) dropped 24 points against Bethune-Cookman.
 
Adre’onia Coleman (MSU) grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds, to go along with 14 points, in a win over Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Tykyrah Williams (MSU) had double-doubles against Florida A&M (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Savannah State (16 points, 10 rebounds).
 
Morgan Batie (NCAT) had nine points, three assists and three steals against St. Andrew’s.
 
C’Coriea Foy (NCAT) scored a career-high 31 points in a blowout win over St. Andrew’s.
 
Alexus Lessears (NCAT) had 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks against Delaware State.
 
Khadedra Croker (NSU) had 13 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in a road win over North Carolina Central.
 
Kayla Roberts (NSU) scored 20 points against North Carolina Central, to go along with six rebounds and three steals.
 
Kaylee Allen (SSU) had 19 points and eight rebounds at Morgan State, after turning in an 18-point, 9-rebound effort at Coppin State.