NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 1, 2020—Howard senior Jayla Thornton and South Carolina State senior Heniaya Moton were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today. Howard’s Anzhane’ Hutton earned Rookie of the Week honors, while North Carolina Central sophomore Anissa Rivera was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Thornton (G, 5-9, Sr., Newark, N.J.) dropped a game-high 26 points in the Bison’s 87-83 season-opening win over Mount St. Mary’s on Monday, to go along with six rebounds, two steals, an assist and a blocked shot. Thornton was 6-for-15 from the floor, hitting five of her 10 3-pointers and going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
Moton (G, 5-7, Sr., Washington, D.C.) went 11-for-21 from the floor (52.3 percent) and hit six of her 13 3-pointers (46.2 percent) in the Lady Bulldogs’ season opener at Coastal Carolina, dropping 28 points. She also had three steals and a pair of assists.
Hutton (F, 6-0, Fr., Cedar Hill, Texas) was stellar in her collegiate debut on Monday, dropping 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting (88.9 percent) in a win over Mount St. Mary’s. Twelve of those 18 points came in the first quarter, and Hutton also grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
Rivera (F, 6-1, So., Capitol Heights, Md.) blocked five shots and grabbed 14 rebounds – nine on the defensive end – in the Lady Eagles’ double-overtime victory over Campbell on Wednesday. Two of those five blocks came in the final seconds of the second overtime period. In two games, Rivera averaged 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.
Other Top Performers
Nailah Delinois (CSU) had two steals and a blocked shot against Penn State.
Hope Evans (CSU) had two steals and a blocked shot against Penn State.
Aliyah Lawson (CSU) had 12 points and three assists against Penn State.
Ja’Niah Henson (MSU) dropped 19 points against UMBC, hitting three 3-pointers and dishing out four assists to go along with three steals.
Dahnye Redd (MSU) recorded a double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds) in a season-opening win over UMBC.
Paris McBride (NCCU) dropped 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting to go along with four rebounds, four steals and three assists against N.C. State.
Kieche White (NCCU) scored 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and five steals in a double-overtime win over Campbell.
Jalynn Holmes (NSU) led the Spartans with 23 points, seven rebounds and three steals in a 30-point win over Salem University. She also had 13 points and seven boards against UNC Wilmington.