NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 2, 2022—Norfolk State junior guard Deja Francis and Coppin State redshirt junior guard Aliyah Lawson 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. North Carolina Central guard Diamond Thomas was named Rookie of the Week, while Howard sophomore forward Anzhane’ Hutton earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.
 
Francis (5-7, Jr., G, Queens, N.Y.) led Norfolk State to the win over South Carolina State on Saturday in a battle for first place, dropping 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting and going 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Francis also had seven rebounds, five steals and five assists in the contest.
 
Lawson (5-7, r-Jr., G, Ontario, Canada) dropped 22 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including a 5-for-11 effort from 3-point range, in the Eagles’ win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday. She also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals, and Lawson is now second in program history in career made 3-pointers.
 
Thomas (5-4, Fr., G, Knightdale, N.Y.) dropped a season-high 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Howard, hitting a season-high six 3-pointers.
 
Hutton (6-0, So., F, Dallas, Texas) averaged 12.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steal a game in two contests for the Bison this past week. She grabbed 12 boards (nine defensive) against North Carolina Central on Saturday, while also recording a pair of steals and a block, and against South Carolina State, she had 12 rebounds (eight defensive) and three blocked shots.
 
Other Top Performers
Jaia Alexander (Coppin State) recorded a double-double against Maryland Eastern Shore with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Jewel Watkins (Coppin State) grabbed nine rebounds to go along with six points against Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Ja’Niah Henson (Morgan State) scored 20 points and hit all four of her 3-pointers against Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
Nicole Gwynn (South Carolina State) scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds against Norfolk State.
 
Trinity Klock (South Carolina State) grabbed 10 rebounds against Norfolk State to go along with eight points.