NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 25, 2022—Norfolk State junior guard Deja Francis was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today. Coppin State guard/forward Jewel Watkins was named Rookie of the Week, while Norfolk State senior guard Camille Downs earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.
 
Francis (5-7, Jr., G, Queens, N.Y.) averaged 28.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in two Norfolk State wins this past weekend, going a combined 18-for-28 (.643) from the floor. She dropped a career-high 32 points against Coppin State on Saturday, going 8-for-14 from the floor and 14-for-16 from the free throw line while also grabbing five rebounds and two steals. On Monday, she had a 24-point, 3-steal effort against Morgan State, going 11-for-14 from the floor.
 
Watkins (5-11, Fr., G/F, Whitehall, Ohio) averaged 11.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game this past week, going a combined 8-for-18 (.440) from the floor and 6-for-12 (.500) from behind the arc. She matched her season high with 16 points against Norfolk State to go along with seven rebounds, and she also had a 10-point, 8-rebound effort against North Carolina Central. She hit two 3-pointers in each of her three games played.
 
Downs (5-10, Sr., G, Fredericksburg, Va.) grabbed 10 steals in Monday’s win over Morgan State, which is the highest single-game total in the MEAC so far this season and tied for the third-highest total in all of Div. I. It is also the highest single-game steals total for Norfolk State since Chanette Hicks grabbed 10 against Jacksonville in 2019.
 
Other Top Performers
Jaia Alexander (Coppin State) dropped 21 points against Norfolk State and scored in double figures in all three games this past week.
 
Colleen Bucknor (Coppin State) grabbed nine rebounds against Howard, to go along with two blocks and two steals, and another eight against Norfolk State.
 
Zoe Holmes (Delaware State) dropped 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against North Carolina Central.
 
Brooklyn Fort-Davis (Howard) scored a career-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds against Coppin State.
 
Iyanna Warren (Howard) had three steals against Morgan State and two against Coppin State.
 
Ariana Seawell (Maryland Eastern Shore) had 12 points and 10 rebounds against North Carolina Central.
 
Dahnye Redd (Morgan State) opened the weekend with a 14-point, 7-rebound effort against Howard before dropping 15 points against Norfolk State.
 
Tianna Carter (North Carolina Central) recorded her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds against Delaware State.
 
Diamond Thomas (North Carolina Central) dropped 21 points to go along with three steals against Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Nicole Gwynn (South Carolina State) scored 11 points against Maryland Eastern Shore and 13 points against Delaware State.
 
Trinity Klock (South Carolina State) grabbed 13 rebounds against Maryland Eastern Shore.